Contemporary Moral Theology Volume 1 – Questions in Fundamental Moral Theology – By John C. Ford and Gerald Kelly Chapter 2 – Doctrinal Value and Interpretation of Papal Teaching At the Annual Meeting of the Catholic Theological Society of America in 1949, a paper read by Eugene M. Burke C.S.P,1 devoted considerable space to the … Continue reading Chapter 2 – Doctrinal Value and Interpretation of Papal Teaching

Contemporary Moral Theology Volume 1 – Questions in Fundamental Moral Theology – By John C. Ford and Gerald Kelly  Extracts on Reduced Culpability (all emphasis added and footnotes omitted) Chapter 8 – Situation Ethics: Some Further Observations – Page 127 For instance, as we shall explain later, some Catholic authors have gone entirely too far … Continue reading Chapters 8 to 11 – Extracts on Reduced Culpability

In my Apologia for the Orthodoxy of Amoris Laetitia (“AL”), I noted AL has engendered a number of doubts as to its Catholic orthodoxy, including from lay Catholics on social media. One such lay Catholic with whom I have interacted on Twitter, Mark Lambert, has taken the opportunity to critically (but respectfully) engage with my … Continue reading De Omnibus Dubitandum Est – A Dialogue

Introduction The Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia, and his letter to the Bishops of the Buenos Aires Pastoral Region confirming its implication for Holy Communion for the divorced and remarried, has engendered a number of doubts (or dubia) as to its Catholic orthodoxy. These objections have come from the all levels in the … Continue reading Amoris Laetitia – An Apologia for its Orthodoxy

This objection, as stated in the first Dubia of the four Cardinals, is that it is not: “[P]ossible to grant absolution in the sacrament of penance, and thus to admit to holy Communion a person who, while bound by a valid marital bond, lives together with a different person more uxorio without fulfilling the conditions … Continue reading 1.0 Mortal Sin

This objection, as stated in the second, fourth and fifth Dubia of the four Cardinals, is that it must be affirmed as valid that: Absolute moral norms exist that prohibit intrinsically evil acts and which are binding without exceptions (VS 79). Circumstances or intentions can never transform an act intrinsically evil by virtue of its … Continue reading 2.0 Intrinsic Evil

This objection, as referred to in the third Dubia of the four Cardinals, is that under Canon 915 the D&R “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin” and “are not to be admitted to holy Communion”. 3.1 Doctrinal Background of the Objection The impediment to the D&R receiving Holy Communion under Canon 915 is also expressed … Continue reading 3.0 Public Scandal

This objection is that, as FC 84 bases its exclusion of the D&R from Holy Communion upon Sacred Scripture, the exclusion is of itself an unchangeable doctrinal proposition. 4.1 Doctrinal Background of the Objection FC 84 does not indicate the Sacred Scripture to which it is referring, but merely states: “[T]he Church reaffirms her practice, … Continue reading 4.0 Sacred Scripture

This objection is that FC 84 provides an additional and purportedly doctrinal reason for the exclusion of the D&R from Holy Communion beyond mortal sin (refer 1.0 Mortal Sin) and public scandal (refer 3.0 Public Scandal), being that the D&R objectively contradict the Eucharist. 5.1 Doctrinal Background of the Objection FC 84 states: “They are … Continue reading 5.0 Objective Contradiction

This objection is that, as the exclusion of the D&R from Holy Communion has been the constant and unchanging practice of the Church, the exclusion is of itself an unchangeable doctrinal proposition. 6.1 Doctrinal Background of the Objection Pope St John Paul II, in confirming the reservation of priestly ordination to men alone was of … Continue reading 6.0 Unchanging Practice