Nostra Aetate

[KLJM12]

Can anyone help me find out if Nostra Aetate is dogmatic upon the faithful? I can find no consistent source that explicitly binds Catholics to the teachings within this declaration.
So I guess I have 3 related questions:

1. Is NA dogmatic in its entirety?
2. Is part of NA dogmatic? If so, which parts?
3. Is NA not a part of the dogmatic constitution laid out by Vatican II?

Gratias Multas et Dominus vobiscum

 

[Lancer]

A few quotes from Pope Paul VI…and then Cardinal Ratzinger"…from a blog…sorry I don’t have a better source for these quotes…but they specifically answer your question. Cardinal Ratzinger makes a typical very astute comment in his second comment…regarding…if V-II was a pastoral council…why did/do so many claim it was a “supercouncil”…and supersedes all councils before V-II…which in fact were dogmatic councils…not simply pastoral…and they “toss so much Tradition out the window”…including the Tridentine Latin Mass?
Pax Christi

There are those who ask what authority, what theological qualification, the Council intended to give to its teachings, knowing that it avoided issuing solemn dogmatic definitions backed by the Church’s infallible teaching authority. The answer is known by those who remember the conciliar declaration of March 6, 1964, repeated on November 16, 1964. In view of the pastoral nature of the Council, it avoided proclaiming in an extraordinary manner any dogmas carrying the mark of infallibility.

Pope Paul VI

And if anyone is wondering **what Pope Benedict thinks of all the “dogmatic definitions” **that came out of VII, here’s his shpiel from when he was just plain old Cardinal Ratzinger:

Certainly there is a mentality of narrow views that isolates Vatican II and which provoked this opposition. There are many accounts of it, which give the impression that from Vatican II onward, everything has been changed, and what preceded it has no value or, at best, has value only in the light of Vatican II… The truth is that this particular Council defined no dogma at all, and deliberately chose to remain on a modest level, as a merely pastoral council.

And in case that wasn’t clear enough:

Some descriptions give the impression that everything was different after Vatican II, and that nothing that came before it could still be considered relevant, or could be relevant only in the light of Vatican II. Vatican II is not treated as a part of the greater living tradition of the Church, but as a totally new beginning. **Even though it did not issue a single dogma and wanted to be considered a humble pastoral Council, some recount it as though it had been a kind of superdogma which makes everything else irrelevant. **

popinainteasy.blogspot.com/2008/09/vatican-ii-made-some-dogmatic.html

 

[triumphguy]

Do you mean the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions during the Second Vatican Council (OCTOBER 28, 1965)?

It was passed by a vote of 2,221 to 88 of the assembled bishops.

Nostra Aetate was promulgated on October 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI.

 

[KLJM12]

Do you mean the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions during the Second Vatican Council (OCTOBER 28, 1965)?

It was passed by a vote of 2,221 to 88 of the assembled bishops.

Nostra Aetate was promulgated on October 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI.

Indeed it was passed. But is it Dogmatic? Or just pastoral and therefore, Catholics can choose to see it in a pastoral light only, without accepting it as doctrinal?

The first response was decent, but I wish there were solid sources attached to the quotations.

 

[triumphguy]

I would think the default position when reading anything promulgated by a Pope and passed by a huge majority of Bishops in an Ecumenical Council should be to respectfully submit one’s will to the teachings contained therein, and not really worry if it’s dogmatic, doctrinal or a mere suggestion.

 

[bilop]

Indeed it was passed. But is it Dogmatic? Or just pastoral and therefore, Catholics can choose to see it in a pastoral light only, without accepting it as doctrinal?

The first response was decent, but I wish there were solid sources attached to the quotations.

No new dogma or doctrine was defined. To the extent V2 taught dogma, it was pre-existing dogma.

God Bless

 

[Michael_Mayo]

I am curious, what is your beef with it?

 

[triumphguy]

There’s 16 documents in Vatican II

2 Dogmatic Constitutions
1 Constitution on liturgy
1 Pastoral constitution on the Church in the Modern World
9 Decrees
3 Declarations

1. Sacrosanctum concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963.
   English Latin
2. Inter Mirifica, Decree On the Means of Social Communication, 1963.
   English Latin
3. Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution On the Church, 1964.
   English Latin
4. Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite,1964.
   English Latin
5. Unitatis Redintegratio, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964.
   English Latin
6. Christus Dominus, Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops In the Church,
7. English Latin
8. Perfectae Caritatis, Decree On Renewal of Religious Life, 1965.
   English Latin
9. Optatam Totius, Decree On Priestly Training, 1965.
   English Latin
10. Gravissimum Educationis, Declaration On Christian Education, 1965.
    English Latin
11. Nostra Aetate, Declaration On the Relation Of the Church to Non-Christian
    Religions, 1965. English Latin
12. Dei Verbum, Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation, 1965.
    English Latin
13. Apostolicam Actuositatem, Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity, 1965.
    English Latin
14. Dignitatis Humanae, Declaration On Religious Freedom, 1965.
    English Latin
15. Ad Gentes, Decree On the Mission Activity of the Church, 1965.
    English Latin
16. Presbyterorum Ordinis, Decree On the Ministry and Life of Priests, 1965.
    English Latin
17. Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution On the Church In the Modern World,1965.

 

[triumphguy]

This is what the various terms mean:

Apostolic constitutions (apostolicae constitutiones): solemn, formal documents on matters of highest consequence concerning doctrinal or disciplinary matters, issued by the pope in his own name. They are published as either universal or particular law of the Church. (Examples: the Constitution on the Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium; Constitution on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.)

**Apostolic exhortation **(apostolica exhortatio): a papal reflection on a particular topic that does not contain dogmatic definitions or policy directives, addressed to bishops, clergy and all the faithful of the entire Catholic Church. Apostolic exhortations are not legislative documents. (Example: Familiaris Consortio, on the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World.)

**Apostolic letter **(apostolica epistola): a formal papal teaching document, not used for dogmatic definitions of doctrine, but to give counsel to the Church on points of doctrine that require deeper explanation in the light of particular circumstances or situations in various parts of the world.

**Declaration **(declamatio): may be a simple statement of the law, which must be interpreted according to the existing law; or an authoritative declaration that is retroactive and does not require further promulgation; or an extensive declaration, which modifies the law, is not retroactive and must be promulgated according to the law.

Decree (decretum): a statement involving Church law, precepts or judicial decisions on a specific matter. It is an ordinance given by one having the power of jurisdiction (such as a bishop within his particular diocese, the head of an office of the Roman Curia, or the pope), acting administratively to promote compliance with the law. A decree announces that a given document or legislative text is in effect.

**Encyclical **(encyclica epistola - literally, “circular letter”): a formal apostolic letter issued by the pope usually addressed to the bishops, clergy and faithful of the entire Church. Example, Humanae vitae, concerning the Church’s teaching on birth control issued in 1968 by Pope Paul VI.

Instruction (instructio): explains or amplifies a document that has legislative force, such as apostolic constitutions, and states how its precepts are to be applied. (e.g., Liturgiam authenticam, on liturgical translation, an Instruction on the correct implementation of the Constitution on the Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.)

Institutio: instituted arrangement or regular method, rules (as in Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani).

Motu proprio (literally, by one’s own initiative): a legislative document or decree issued by the pope on his own initiative, not in response to a request. (Examples: Apostolos Suos; Misericordia Dei.)

**Promulgation **(promulgatio): the process whereby the lawmaker communicates the law to those to whom the law has been given. (The official effective date on which a document is promulgated may or may not coincide with the date on which a document is actually published.)

Recognitio: confirms the review of documents that are submitted by a conference of bishops to the relevant office (dicastery) of the Holy See. Recognitio is required before the provisions of documents that modify universal law may come into effect. Recognitio thus signals acceptance of a document that may have legislative force. (Recognitio is required for all documents that modify universal liturgical norms, for example.) adoremus.org/0902AuthorityChurchDoc.html

 

[Megan7]

There’s 16 documents in Vatican II

2 Dogmatic Constitutions
1 Constitution on liturgy
1 Pastoral constitution on the Church in the Modern World
9 Decrees
3 Declarations

1. Sacrosanctum concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963.
   English Latin
2. Inter Mirifica, Decree On the Means of Social Communication, 1963.
   English Latin
3. Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution On the Church, 1964.
   English Latin
4. Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite,1964.
   English Latin
5. Unitatis Redintegratio, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964.
   English Latin
6. Christus Dominus, Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops In the Church,
7. English Latin
8. Perfectae Caritatis, Decree On Renewal of Religious Life, 1965.
   English Latin
9. Optatam Totius, Decree On Priestly Training, 1965.
   English Latin
10. Gravissimum Educationis, Declaration On Christian Education, 1965.
    English Latin
11. Nostra Aetate, Declaration On the Relation Of the Church to Non-Christian
    Religions, 1965. English Latin
12. Dei Verbum, Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation, 1965.
    English Latin
13. Apostolicam Actuositatem, Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity, 1965.
    English Latin
14. Dignitatis Humanae, Declaration On Religious Freedom, 1965.
    English Latin
15. Ad Gentes, Decree On the Mission Activity of the Church, 1965.
    English Latin
16. Presbyterorum Ordinis, Decree On the Ministry and Life of Priests, 1965.
    English Latin
17. Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution On the Church In the Modern World,1965.

Thanks.

 

[KLJM12]

I would think the default position when reading anything promulgated by a Pope and passed by a huge majority of Bishops in an Ecumenical Council should be to respectfully submit one’s will to the teachings contained therein, and not really worry if it’s dogmatic, doctrinal or a mere suggestion.

Then how can one reconcile A Quo Primum with Nostra Aetate?

 

[KLJM12]

I want to apologize for any statement that I made that was offensive to Jews or Judaism or that implied that they do not attempt to worship the One True God.

I am truly sorry.

God Bless.