Something I've always wondered

[Crown_of_Stars]

Especially lately. Why does the Church change her teachings? If the Catholic Church is supposed to be the One True Church (which I have always believed it is), why should anything ever change? I don’t know enough about it to give examples, I just know vaguely. An example is to say that cremation is wrong in one era, then the teaching has been changed and it’s acceptable? Who is making these changes? Do mere men have this power? It’s, I will admit, the one thing I find confusing. What is the purpose of changing? Why not just leave particular teachings as they are for thousands of years? I don’t trust changed teaching. If cremation was wrong before, and now it isn’t, I still wouldn’t believe in cremation. I will clarify by saying…how can truth be changed? Shouldn’t it always stay the same, and not change like mere opinion? It makes you wonder, just a little, how true some of it is.

 

[GEddie]

Especially lately. Why does the Church change her teachings? If the Catholic Church is supposed to be the One True Church (which I have always believed it is), why should anything ever change? I don’t know enough about it to give examples, I just know vaguely. An example is to say that cremation is wrong in one era, then the teaching has been changed and it’s acceptable? Who is making these changes? Do mere men have this power? It’s, I will admit, the one thing I find confusing. What is the purpose of changing? Why not just leave particular teachings as they are for thousands of years? I don’t trust changed teaching. If cremation was wrong before, and now it isn’t, I still wouldn’t believe in cremation. I will clarify by saying…how can truth be changed? Shouldn’t it always stay the same, and not change like mere opinion? It makes you wonder, just a little, how true some of it is.

The Holy Church does not go back on its defined teachings. It will, however, alter certain practices or proscriptions to suit changing needs.

So teachings such as the Trinity or Transubstantiation are secure, as are the seven sacraments.

But the Church is empowered to allow Holy Mass in the vernacular.

In your example of cremation, the Church still very much prefers burial as more fitting to a human body’s dignity. But for physical or economic reasons, cremation is now permitted, provided the ashes are handled with the respect due the body they once were.

The teaching concerning the dignity of the human body is unchanged; the practical permission has altered to fit a world of limited land area, etc.

Ultimately, any change in Church policy must be signed off on by His Holiness.

ICXC NIKA

 

[churchmilitant3]

In terms of doctrine and dogma Holy Mother Church never changes what she teaches. The Trinity, the divinity of Christ, ect. These are teachings have been challenged but do not change because they cannot change. The Church can, however change its discipline. You use the example of cremation, which was forbidden because of its pagan origins and usage. If you are a Catholic and wish to be cremated for pagan reasons then it is forbidden, but the Church sees that that is no longer why people are cremated so she changed her rules on it. The Faith never changes, but the unimportant things can.

 

[Crown_of_Stars]

These answers were helpful to me. I think sometimes the problem is just trying to think about and/ or analyze it too much. I’m not a theologian, or whatever the term should be called. I’m just a Catholic, a lay person, trying to live my temporary earthly life, as reasonably decently as I know how, just from simply knowing right from wrong.