Thanks to Rev. John T Putnam for this. I tag my favorite FB Theologians Evangelist Faye Wallace, Stu Epperson, Philip Michael Wagoner, John Ball III, Paula Shropshire Stuart, Robert Jack, Father-Joseph Mack, FatherRoger Landry The Church, it is said, has been given the ministry of shepherd; she proclaims the Gospel for the faithful, but does not teach for the theologians. But such a distinction between proclamation and teaching is profoundly contrary to the nature of the biblical word. The Church has brought about the emancipation of simple souls and has promised even to them the ability to be philosophers in the true sense of the word, that is, to comprehend what is essential to human nature as well as, or even better than, those who are learned. Jesus’ words about the lack of understanding among the wise and intelligent and the depth of understanding among infants and children (Mt 11:25) are particularly apposite in this context: they establish Christianity as a religion for the people, as a faith in which there is no class system. And, in fact, what is proclaimed in the homily is binding; that is its nature. It does not propose this or that recreational activity or a kind of religious entertainment. Its purpose is to tell man what he is and what he must do to be himself. But how can this teaching of the Church be binding if it is not binding on theologians? The essence of the Church’s teaching ministry consists precisely in the fact that the proclamation of the Faith is the valid touchstone for theology as well. This proclamation is the object of the reflection of theology. The faith of simple souls is far from being a kind of watered-down theology for the laity, a so-called “popular Platonism”; the relationship is exactly the opposite: proclamation is the standard for theology, not theology for proclamation. It is indeed correct that the Church in her ministry as shepherd is authorized to proclaim the Gospel, not to teach theology as a science. But the ministry of proclamation is likewise the ministry of theology. From: Ratzinger, Joseph, Internationale katholische Zeitschrift
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 16:18:35 +0000
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