How Benedict XVI brought about
a real paradigm shift in Catholic studies
...and how this relates to 'Humanae vitae'
and upholding traditional Catholc teaching
June 16, 2018
A splendid talk the other day, from Fr John Hemer, at the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.
His talk set me thinking about
the real paradigm shift in Catholic studies during the Ratzinger Years. After the terrible aridity of 'modern Biblical scholarship' - as Catholic 'scholars' aped what passed for 'Biblical Studies' among liberal Protestant Northern Europeans and North Americans - Benedict XVI/Professor Ratzinger (following the teaching of St John Paul II that Scripture should not be seen as a field for disdainful "see how clever I am" analysis)
not only restored the respectful study of Scripture but showed, in his own three-volume JESUS OF NAZARETH, how it should be done.
And Benedict XVI put the Fathers into the heart of his homilies and Angelus addresses.
Readers will not need to be reminded of the significance of his liturgical interventions. His affirmation that
the old rites had never been lawfully and canonically abrogated created a New Ballpark (am I getting this idiom right?), and, more importantly,
his assertion, theological rather than canonical, that what has been sacred never can be abolished, puts in place an important marker should some future pope attempt ultra vires [beyond one's powers] to limit Tradition.
Fr Hemer's exegesis of Scripture is part of this most welcome revolution.
- The foundation, in Anglophone countries, of the Confraternities of Catholic Clergy is a highly important factor in the renewal of witness to Catholic Truth.
- And the erection of the Ordinariates, thus strengthening within the Catholic Church Blessed John Henry Newman's appropriation of Anglicanism, is another monument to the Benedict Paradigm Shift.
A particular and most recent fruit of this shift is apparent in the signing by some 500 English priests of a letter affirming the truths taught in
Humanae vitae. Many of the signatories were, of course, members of the Ordinariate (including married clergy) and of the Confraternity, although the letter was not organised by either of those bodies. At a time when there is unease about the risk that the current Roman regime may try to relativize and water down Catholic teaching, this wise, robust, and sensible document can do nothing but good.
Perhaps the time may be coming when similar interventions may be necessary in order to uphold the Church's infallible teaching with regard to the 'ordination' of women to sacerdotal ministries. There is no reason why His Eminence the Graf von Schoenborn should be allowed to do all the running ...
Contrast the following initiative by British priests with the failure of the Church of Ireland to seek to influence in any way the recent Irish referendum to repeal the constitutional amendment that banned abortion - to realize the worse-than-abject condition to which St. Patrick's native turf has reverted to its pre-Christian paganism!
Hundreds of British priests sign
statement backing 'Humanae Vitae'
by Nick Hallett
June 15, 2018
Nearly 500 British priests have backed a statement in support of the teaching of
Humanae Vitae.
The clergy from across the country signed the document as the 50th anniversary of the encyclical approaches.
Humanae Vitae affirmed traditional Christian teaching on the family and sexuality, and restated the Church’s total opposition to artificial contraception.
The full statement:
In 1968 Pope Paul VI issued a re-affirmation of central aspects of the Church’s traditional teaching on human sexuality. The encyclical Humanae Vitae affirmed, in harmony with the Church’s traditional teaching, the purity and beauty of the spousal act, always open to procreation and always unitive.
Humanae Vitae predicted that if artificial contraception became widespread and commonly accepted by society then we would lose our proper understanding of marriage, the family, the dignity of the child and of women and even a proper appreciation of our bodies and the gift of male and female. The Holy Father warned that governments would begin to utilise coercive methods to control what is most private and intimate.
At the time of the publication of Humanae Vitae many rejected its message and its warnings. Many found the teaching that the use of contraception was in all cases ‘absolutely excluded’ and ‘intrinsically wrong’ difficult to accept and challenging to proclaim. Fifty years later so much has unfolded in our society that has been to the detriment of human life and love. Many have come to appreciate again the wisdom of the Church’s teaching.
As priests we desire to affirm on this 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae the noble vision of procreative love as the Catholic Church has always taught and understood it.
We believe a proper ‘human ecology’ - a rediscovery of the way of nature and respect for human dignity - is essential for the future of our people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. We propose discovering anew the message of Humanae Vitae, not only in fidelity to the Gospel, but as a key to the healing and true development of our society.
The organisers noted that the sheer number of signatories represents a significant shift in favour of the encyclical’s teachings. “In 1968 very few priests spoke out confidently regarding this teaching and many dissented,” they said.
One priest commented:
“It is hard to get 100 priests – the size of an average diocese – to do anything together but to get 500 is very significant indeed.
We hope that the Church here will now recognise the importance of Humanae Vitae and place it at the forefront of our pastoral strategies and evangelisation. This marks an important moment for the Church in this country.”
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 17/06/2018 02:28]