The Pattern of Papal Persecutions, Then and Now by Richard Bennett Latest "Crack of the Whip" The Roman Catholic Church is continuing to tighten her grip on those under her jurisdiction. An example of the legislative aspect of this process can be seen in the following addition to the present code of Roman Catholic canon law (and the Canon law for the Eastern Churches). Canon 750 of the current body of canon law, now has a second paragraph which reads, Furthermore, each and everything set forth definitively by the Magisterium of the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals must be firmly accepted and held; namely those things required for the holy keeping and faithful exposition of the deposit of faith; therefore, anyone who rejects propositions which are to be held definitively sets himself against the teaching of the Catholic Church. Rome has been repressive through out her history; the "each and everything" clause in this canon law seems to introduce an unparalleled universal enslavement. Furthermore, this decree spells out the punishments that are to be enacted to ensure compliance. Under the heading in the papal code itself, Offenses against Ecclesiastical Authorities and the Freedom of the Church (sic), the pronouncement continues, Canon 1371, n. 1 of the Code of Canon Law, consequently, will receive an appropriate reference to canon 750, 2, so that it will now read: Canon 1371, Para. 1 The following are to be punished with a just penalty: 1 a person who, apart from the case mentioned in canon 1364, 1, teaches a doctrine condemned by the Roman Pontiff, or by an Ecumenical Council, or obstinately rejects the teachings mentioned in canon 750, [Para.] 2 or in canon 752 and, when warned by the Apostolic See or by the Ordinary, does not retract;" The Roman Catholic Church has increased its demand for the submission of mind and will to its decrees. This covers all members of the Roman Catholic Church in matters concerning faith and morals. While physical punishment is not prescribed, if it were added in, it would have to be accepted with a submissive conscience. The decrees that established the tortures enacted during the Inquisition have still not been rescinded. Rather, Canon 752 decrees: A religious respect of intellect and will, even if not the assent of faith, is to be paid to the teaching which the Supreme Pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate on faith or morals when they exercise the authentic magisterium even if they do not intend to proclaim it with a definitive act; therefore the Christian faithful are to take care to avoid whatever is not in harmony with that teaching. An official commentary on Canon 1371 states, "one may wonder whether those normally guilty of such an offence would be Catholics, on whom such a norm might have a beneficial effect." This statement and terms such as "the Christian faithful" may make one wonder who is being threatened in these canons. Is it Catholics alone or are others to fear as in the past? Canon 11 states that "merely ecclesiastical laws" binds those baptized in the Catholic Church. The commentary on Canon 11 makes it abundantly clear that ecclesiastical laws can at times be articulations of divine law. If Rome makes such a claim for some of her laws, then ipso facto they would bind all, in her mind, not simply Roman Catholics. This distinguishing and current enforcement of stricter interpretation of law makes one wonder if Rome is not quite likely to interpret her laws as divine when she has the power to do so. She alone is the interpreter of her laws, and the only one to say to whom and when they apply.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 01:58:35 +0000
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