A reader writes:
Hello, I hate to be so ignorant, but what exactly is the magisterium? I hear about it all the time and have run search engines on it, but the articles just refer to it, without an explanation. Is it a group of writings?
First, no need to be embarrassed about the question. Asking questions is how we learn.
Second, the Magisterium is not a collecting of writings, but it’s quite understandable why you might think that. The Magisterium tends to express itself through writings much of the time, and that’s what you’re running into.
In actuality, the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. It’s name comes from the Latin word magister, which means "teacher."
The Magisterium is composed of the bishops of the Church teaching in union with the pope. The pope can himself exercise the teaching authority of the Church, or the bishops can do it when they teach in union with him.
If a bishop goes rogue, though, and starts teaching contrary to the pope then he isn’t exercising the Church’s teaching authority. He’s speaking on his own and not in his capacity to represent the Magisterium.
Ordinary theologians (unless they are also bishops) are not members of the Magisterium.
Neither are apologists (again, unless they are also bishops).
Not even the ones who write blogs.