Friday, August 28, 2009
Vatican approves US Catechism Revision on Jewish Covenant with God



Vatican approves US catechism revision on Jewish covenant with God

August 27, 2009


Link to original

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Vatican Congregation for Clergy has approved a small change in the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults clarifying Catholic teaching about God's covenant with the Jewish people. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Aug. 27 that the Vatican had granted its "recognitio" to a one-sentence revision of the catechism that was approved by the U.S. bishops at their June 2008 meeting. The revised sentence, in a section that explains relations between the Catholic Church and Jews, reads: "To the Jewish people, whom God first chose to hear his word, 'belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ'" (Rom 9: 4-5; cf. CCC, No. 839). The original sentence read: "Thus the covenant that God made with the Jewish people through Moses remains eternally valid for them."
So it seems that the US bishops are alluding to the serious error in the original wording of the Catechism. After all, if the covenant with the Jews "remains eternally valid for them," then there is no reason for evangelization of the Jewish people. And such a logical conclusion is in conflict with the infallible teachings of the Church.

Pope Eugene IV: "The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." (Cantate Domino, 1441.)

3 comment(s):

del_button August 30, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Anonymous said...

Is Cantate Domino subject to the doctrine of infallability? Infallibility is not automatic for all papal pronouncements but must meet some very particular criteria.

del_button August 30, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Matthew said...

Well, Cantate Domino is not infallible in the sense of it being "Ex Cathedra"; however, the teaching within it (Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Sallus) is said to be infallible by virtue of the ordinary and universal magisterium. And, Cantate Domino was proclaimed at an ecumenical (not a simply pastoral council).

del_button May 26, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Anonymous said...

Yes, the Council of Florence is certainly infallible. Read the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on infallibility.

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