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, 64.2.

            Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “seeking what is true and good” reminds us that “the authority of the Church, when she pronounces on moral questions, in no way undermines the freedom of conscience of Christians.”  Three things stand out here, namely:  Christian freedom of conscience; the teaching authority of the Church; and pronouncements of the Church on moral questions.  Here we consider them, even if briefly.

            First, we consider the Christian freedom of conscience.  If none are forced to become or remain believers the freedom of conscience remains.  But, once having accepted Christ, His Gospel, His Church… there are certain things which follow.  If we were to say “I am a Christian but…”  The depth of our commitment to Christ is called into question.

            Second, we consider the teaching authority of the Church.   It is the Lord Jesus Himself who says:  “He who hears you hears Me” (Luke 10:16) and “What you bind on Earth is bound in Heaven” (cf. Matthew 16:19; 18:17-18).  Saint Paul, for his part, inspired by God does not endorse despising the Church of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:22).  How can we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ and despise His Church, her leaders, her doctrine?  Rather, with King David we believe that the word of the Lord, and His Mystical Body and Bride Mother Church, is as a lamp for our feet and a light to our path (cf. Psalm 119:105).  Some people might be content to reduce religion to worship, but there are eight other commandments, not just the first and third (have no other Gods, keep holy the Sabbath).  Still others have tried to reduce religion to morality and this too is a truncation.  Yes, the Lord our God calls us to be holy, renouncing sin, and Satan, and the glamour of evil.  This is morality writ large.  But in showing love for the Lord our God with all our hearts, and minds, and souls, and our neighbors as ourselves and striving for excellence is a much broader view (cf. Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:30; Philippians 4:8).

            Third we consider the various pronouncements of the Church on moral questions.  Bishop Robert Barron (b. 1959) reminds us that “there is a lot more to Christianity than the ‘pelvic issues” (a reference to abortion, pornography, gay ‘marriage’).  When calling Pope Saint Paul VI a prophet for his 1968 encyclical Humanae vitae Barron does not shy away from the “other” pelvic issue, contraception.  Besides lust, Mother Church also addresses greed, wrath, pride, envy… 

            God bless you!

            Father John Arthur Orr