I don’t know what in the world he’s talking about, but I will nevertheless submit my mind.
The UK Catholic Herald has a sad piece today telling faithful Catholics to stop up their ears and close their eyes. We aren’t supposed to think, just obey the hierarchy, yes? Makes sense. They’re all so nice.
But, huh, society being what it is, people will be people.
Authority is something Western society has a problem with. We like to make our own minds up, and even in Britain, once famed for its deference, everyone is their own expert.
In terms of religion, this is a very Protestant attitude. You go to the Bible, you find your proof text and you cite it, usually to support a position you have already taken up. This is not the Catholic attitude. We know what Scripture is because it was canonised by the Church, which also possesses the authority to expound it correctly, situating the texts within its traditions.
If your bishop is actually a Protestant, does that make you a Catholic to be a Protestant? What if it’s your pope?
The Magisterium has a teaching authority, which is expressed in many ways, including encyclicals. But, as reaction to the most recent papal encyclical, Laudato Si’, showed, even Catholics have a tendency to think that such teaching is something they can take or leave. Indeed, as with so much of the reaction in some quarters to Pope Francis’s comments, there was a tendency for commentators to assume they were more Catholic than the Pope – something which seems to happen a great deal with Francis.
Why? Why does it happen so much with Francis? Don’t tell me. It’s because he’s so wonderful and prophetic our hard hearts can’t hear it. We’re just too challenged by his holy correction. We don’t feel guilty enough about money. We’re not afraid of the weather. We’ve been bribed by an oil company, and fooled by all the papers.
What do these writers suppose Heaven will make of their spin someday?
Popes are neither impeccable nor infallible in all they say, but it should be borne in mind that a papal encyclical is part of the ordinary magisterium, to which, as the Vatican II text Lumen Gentium reminds us, “religious submission of mind and will must be shown … in such a way that his supreme magisterium is acknowledged with reverence.” That means acknowledging the authority of the Magisterium, and, even when we disagree with some of what is said (acknowledging that on politics, economics and science, there is no question of infallibility applying), we should do so in a manner which shows respect.
Respect for a mountain of destructive lies? Maybe that’s part of your faith, Mr. Charmley.