The Catholic Church teaches that people are not bound to any particular scripture interpretation. God speaks to people individually through scripture. This is expressed in documents such as Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943 Pius XII) and Dei Verbum (1965 Second Vatican Council). Thus, Catholics are not required to interpret everything in the Bible literally.
However, Dei Verbum also asserts that, “the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church”. This teaching office of the church is called the Magisterium.
These two somewhat divergent concepts coexist by the Magisterium reserving the right to definitively interpret parts of scripture but rarely doing so. Even when sparsely applied, does this exclusive authority for scripture interpretation enable structural violence? The church says, “No” because it believes it always interprets God’s intentions correctly. However, what has history shown?
Galileo Galilei, through scientific study believed in heliocentrism, the theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun rather than the Sun circling Earth. Galileo was correct.
Despite being correct, Galileo was called before the Magisterium’s Inquisition twice. Psalm 93:1, Psalm 96:10, Psalm 104:5, Ecclesiastes 1:5 and 1 Chronicles 16:30 contain verbiage about the Earth being immovable or the Sun rising and setting about the Earth. Literally interpreting those passages, the Magisterium felt Galileo contradicted scriptural truths. Galileo felt he didn’t, citing 4th century bishop St. Augustine’s theological writings pertaining to non-literal scripture interpretation. However, the Magisterium’s power outranked Galileo, a layman.
Defending his thoughts, Galileo experienced both physical and emotional violence at the hands of the Catholic Church. In 1616, the Inquisition cleared him of all charges but condemned his theory as “false and contrary to Scripture”. He was told to stop promoting the idea. He initially promised to do this, likely to avoid further physical violence. Regardless, the emotional violence of asking him to turn off his God-given brain must have been extremely painful and likely inhibited achieving his potential.
Compelled by pursuit of truth, he later wrote his most famous work, “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” (1632) that defended his theory. In his second trial by the Inquisition, he was found, “vehemently suspect of heresy”, required to recant his theory and placed under house arrest the remainder of his life. Thus, he endured physical violence of imprisonment in addition to emotional violence of invalidating his thoughts and opinions for the last six years of his life.
Because reading books written by a heretic or on heretical topics are grounds for excommunication, the church imposed structural violence upon all humanity threatening them with excommunication if they read Galileo’s works or works on heliocentrism. In its attempt to control truth, the church violated truth.
The church lifted its ban on books discussing heliocentrism in 1835, almost 200 years after Galileo’s death. In 1939 Pope Pius XII, who authored Divino Afflante Spiritu, called Galileo one of the "most audacious heroes of research ... not afraid of the stumbling blocks and the risks on the way…” In 1992 the church finally admitted it erred in dealing with Galileo and his thoughts.
Could Galileo and other intimidated scientists have contributed more to the world if they had not experienced structural violence? We will never know the extent of damage caused by the church because of the impossibility measuring unrealized potential, hidden or buried by fear.
Could the Magisterium again be misinterpreting scripture? The church insists upon a literal interpretation of Jesus selecting twelve men for the original apostles and infers Jesus’ intention that this dictates clergy gender for all eternity. The Magisterium insists upon an interpretation that denies Jesus also sent Mary Magdalene as an apostle. It threatens excommunication to anyone pursuing or enabling female ordinations. Is the error of structural violence over the interpretation of scripture occurring again? Should we act with the same courage as Galileo in pursuing truth regardless of Magisterial threats?
Very valid points. I am suprised that even upon admitting that they made a mistake, they are willing to basically do it again. And I guess if it takes them as long to admit that they are wrong on this, as they were on Galileo, none of the current clergy will be alive to say " sorry "
ReplyDeleteAnd that makes it easy for them.
Hello Louise,
ReplyDeleteI am Kristy's fiance...also Mr anonymous in the above comment. I am very impressed with your writing and thoughts and questions. I am not a catholic, nor am i educated on the catholic religion itself. I believe in god and have attended many churchs throughout my life. I guess i am just stunned that the ordaining of a woman, is considered a worse sin the rape, or murder, or the molesting of a child. I know it probably wont go anywhere, but i went to a catholic website and posed the same questions so that i might hear what they have to say. The following is what i wrote along with my email address.
my question is this. Is it considered a sin to ordain a woman? And if it is, what explanation do you give for this? Where does this rank among sins, such as rape or murder? Molesting of children? I ask these questions in hope of better understanding the stance the church has taken on this topic. I have heard that if someone were to ordain a woman, that they would be excommunicated. I seek the answer first, to find out if it is true. And 2nd, to try to understand how that would warrant excommunication, and the molestation and lifelong scarring of a child or multiple children does not ! Please educate me on if this is actually true, why, and the actual word of god, that directly and clearly addressed this issue.
Thank you and i look forward to your response,
Edward Myers
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ReplyDeleteDear Edward Myers,
Your Ask-A-Franciscan question has been answered.
Question:
explanation dMy question is this. Is it considered a sin to ordain a woman? And if it is, what o you give for this? Where does this rank among sins, such as rape or murder? Molesting of children? I ask these questions in hope of better understanding the stance the church has taken on this topic. I have heard that if someone were to ordain a woman, that they would be excommunicated. I seek the answer first, to find out if it is true. And 2nd, to try to understand how that would warrant excommunication, and the molestation and lifelong scarring of a child or multiple children does not ! Please educate me on if this is actually true, why, and the actual word of god, that directly and clearly addressed this issue. Thank you and i look forward to your response, Edward Myers
Answer:
Hello, Edward, The church has determined that from the beginning it cannot ordain women. YOu may not agree with that, I may not agree with that. But that is the Church stance. The reason for the excommunication from the Church is that it goes against a church declaration and thus separates a person from the Church. Sin as you mentioned such as rape are terrible sins and they separate one from God until they are repented of. Excommunication doe snot mean a person is separated from God at all. Only God know that; excommunication is about church law. You may belong to an organization and because you do something contrary to it laws (some of which you do not believe in) you are "excommunicated" form that organization whether you like it or not. Please note the distinction between separation from the church and from God. There's a major difference. Fr. Jim
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This is an interesting explanation. The church teaches that "the church" is the body of Christ. Therefore, when one is put aside from "the church" one is considered outside of Christ. The church also teaches that salvation comes through Christ. Therefore to be put outside of the church is to be put outside of salvation, i.e., eternally damned.
ReplyDeleteSo, while Fr. Jim the Franciscan tries to gloss over the subject like it's only a legal matter, it is a big deal, if one believes what the church teaches.
Fr. Jim also says that the church has determined from the beginning of time that women cannot be ordained. That is inaccurate. The NT itself mentions female deacons and apostles such as Junia.