Pontifical Biblical Commission…

…judges Francis’ idea on if doctrine can be interpreted against the infallible Magisterium

  • Those who instruct the Christian people have the sacred duty to never depart in the slightest degree from the common doctrine and tradition of the Church

Those who instruct the Christian people in sacred sermons have need of great prudence. Let them above all pass on doctrine, mindful of Saint Paul’s warning: ‘Look to yourself and your teaching; hold on to that. For by so doing you will save both yourself and those who listen to you’ (1Tim 4:16). […] This virtue of prudence should be cherished especially by those who publish for the faithful. Let them carefully bring forth the heavenly riches of the divine word ‘that the faithful may be moved and inflamed rightly to conform their lives (to them)’ (Divino afflante Spiritu, 50). They should consider it a sacred duty never to depart in the slightest degree from the common doctrine and tradition of the Church. They should indeed exploit all the real advances of biblical science which the diligence of recent (students) has produced. But they are to avoid entirely the rash remarks of innovators (Apostolic Letter Quoniam in re biblica 13, EB 626). (Pontifical Biblical Commission. The historicity of the Gospels, no. 4, April 21, 1964)

…judges Francis’ idea on the ‘Bread of Life’

  • Those who instruct should never depart from the common doctrine and tradition of the Church even in the slightest degree

Those who instruct the Christian people in sacred sermons have need of great prudence. Let them above all pass on doctrine, mindful of Saint Paul’s warning: ‘Look to yourself and your teaching; hold on to that. For by so doing you will save both yourself and those who listen to you’ (1Tim 4:16). […] This virtue of prudence should be cherished especially by those who publish for the faithful. Let them carefully bring forth the heavenly riches of the divine word ‘that the faithful may be moved and inflamed rightly to conform their lives (to them)’ (Divino afflante Spiritu 50). They should consider it a sacred duty never to depart in the slightest degree from the common doctrine and tradition of the Church. They should indeed exploit all the real advances of biblical science which the diligence of recent (students) has produced. But they are to avoid entirely the rash remarks of innovators (Apostolic Letter Quoniam in re biblica 13, EB 626). (Pontifical Bible Commission. Instruction concerning the historical truth of the Gospels, no. 4, April 21, 1964)

…judges Francis’ idea on the multiplication of the loaves

  • Those who teach the faithful must abstain from proposing insufficiently proven novelties that do not correspond with the truth

Finally, those who instruct the Christian people with sacred preaching have the necessity of the greatest prudence. Before all else, teach doctrine, remembering the recommendation of Saint Paul: ‘Attend to yourself and to your teaching, persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you’ (1Tim 4:16). Absolutely abstain from proposing vain or insufficiently proven novelties. Present new opinions, if necessary, that have been solidly demonstrated with caution, keeping in mind the condition of the listener. While narrating biblical facts, do not add fictitious circumstances that do not correspond with the truth. This virtue of prudence should be above all a characteristic of those who spread writings of circulation for the faithful. Your preoccupation should be in putting the riches of the divine word with clarity ‘so that the faithful feel moved and encouraged to better their own lives’ (Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu). Be scrupulous in not ever separating from the common doctrine or from the tradition of the Church, not even in small things, taking advantage of the progress of biblical science and the results of the modern investigators, but avoiding all of the rash opinions of the innovators (cf. Apostolic Letter Quoniam in re biblica; Pius X Acta, III, p. 75). It is severely prohibited to you to spread, to collaborate with a pernicious aspiration for novelties, some attempts for the resolution of the difficulties, without a prudent selection and serious examination, confusing in this way the faith of many people. (Pontifical Biblical Commission, The truth about the Gospels, no. 4, April 21, 1964)

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