My dear parishioners,
Peace! In other bulletins (4 December, 2016-11 June, 2017) we have considered the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on “conscience.” We then turned to Saint John Paul II’s encyclical letter Veritatis splendor (6 August, 1993) which addresses fundamental moral issues, including “conscience” more than one hundred times. These reflections were begun earlier (6 April, 2018-30 May, 2018). Here we now consider a passage from Veritatis splendor, 56.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) rightly critiques “so-called ‘pastoral’ solutions contrary to the teaching of the Magisterium, and to justify a ‘creative’ hermeneutic according to which the moral conscience is in no way obliged, in every case, by a particular negative precept.”
What are “so-called pastoral solutions”? Without any reference to a “a wink and a nod” those who have recourse to “so-called pastoral solutions” give a false comfort in the here and now, “go ahead and do what you want, it’s OK…” in spite of the everlasting consequences. Heaven is real and a part of eschatological studies. There are three other parts to any deep eschatological study, namely death, judgment, and Hell.
What is a “creative hermeneutic”? According to Merriam-Webster, hermeneutics is the study of the methodological principles of interpretation. A “creative” hermeneutic might be likened to “making it up as you go”… As a body of knowledge, hermeneutics is related to epistemology, the science of knowledge, how we know what we know. Certain skeptics might only accept that there is one truth, namely, that we cannot know anything and their interpretation of everything else is dependent. Justice Antonin Scalia (+2016) was famous, in part for his classic textualist and originalist hermeneutics when considering the Constitution. Saint Thomas Aquinas (+1274) has a classic hermeneutic when considering the Sacred Scriptures and the writings of Aristotle and the Fathers of the Church.
What are “negative precepts”? “Thou shall not kill, thou not steal, thou shall not bear false witness, thou shall not commit adultery…” these are “negative precepts” (cf. Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21). Some have criticized the Constitution of the United States of America as merely “a charter of negative liberties” all the while not celebrating all that can and has been accomplished via freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, personal property rights which are all safeguarded by the same Constitution. Because life is safeguarded by the Fifth Commandment from myself and others I am able to live life to the best of my ability and help others to do the same. Because private property is safeguarded by the Seventh Commandment I can freely share what I have and enjoy the fruits of my labors. Because the truth is safeguarded by the Eighth Commandment we are able to enjoy our good name and know the truth which sets us free from tyranny, lies and oppression (cf. John 8:32).
A true pastoral solution requires that we speak the truth in love, for God and neighbor (cf. Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Ephesians 4:15).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr