In the combox down yonder, a reader writes:
I stumbled onto your blog by accident. Read several areas of commentary. Was a bit befuddled as to why there is nothing on the site explaining why you are qualified to answer questions or give advice on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church and its practices and canon law rather than directing one to their local priest or bishop.
So I did a little research and found that you work for Catholic Answers.com, but that still doesn’t answer the question.
Okay! I’ll do what I can to help clarify matters!
Is your advice reviewed by Rome or your local bishop to make sure that it is correct and accurate.
No, there is not enough time for that.
Do you not have a moral obligation as a Catholic to gain prior approval of your commentary by you local bishop in order to make sure you are not misleading other Catholics in giving advice (including interpretation of Canon law) on what is proper and what is not?
I have a moral obligation to make sure that what I say is accurate, and I take that obligation very, very seriously. I would daresay that I take it much more seriously than many do, but I do not have the moral or canonical obligation to get prior approval on everything I write on matters related to the faith.
But I don’t have the moral obligation because to seek prior approval on what I write because if people had this obligation then the work of spreading and explaining the faith would come to a screeching halt. There are only 4,400 Catholic bishops in the world, but there are 6,000,000,000 people who need education in the faith. If bishops were required to pre-approve everything that was written to help evangelize the world then they would not be able to eat or sleep. They would spend all their time reading and pre-approving documents–either that or the number of documents would diminish to a trickle and the project of promoting the Christian faith would come to the screeching halt I mentioned earlier.
In recognition of the pressing need for works that promote the faith, canon law only requires imprimaturs on a handful of highly important works, like translations of Scripture or catechisms. It does not require imprimaturs (granted before or after publication) for ordinary attempts to explain points of Church teaching or law. (You can read the requirements for imprimaturs HERE).
As I said, though I don’t have the moral or canonical obligation to get pre-approval on everything I write (though I do on those things I write that require imprimaturs), I do have the moral obligation to make sure that I am right, and I am very serious about that.
This is one of the reasons I "show my work" by quoting from official Church documents whenever possible and by spelling out the links in my reasoning so that people can see and evaluate it for themselves. I don’t just present my conclusions and say "This is what the Church teaches." I know a lot of people do that, but I strive not to be one of them.
I also strive to make it clear whether what I’m saying is a matter of personal opinion or Church teaching–which is something else I wish others would do more often than is presently the case.
My goal in doing this work is what I call "transparency to the Church." I want to present to people what the Church presents without addition, subtraction, or alteration. I strive to tell people what the authentic Magisterium of the Church has said even when I’m not comfortable with it, and when I’m asked a question that the Magisterium has not addressed, I try to make it clear that the answer I’m giving is not to be confused with official Church teaching.
I’m not perfect, and I’m sure that people can point to examples where I have failed in this regard, but this is the goal that I earnestly pursue.
Given your commentary in posts on canon law, and your view of it, can you point me to a the reference that would allow for a dispensation to allow a priest to not be celibate and participate actively in a parish community life?
I’ve been working toward doing a post on the topic of how a laicized priest can and cannot involve himself in parish life for a while. I already know what the general parameters are, but I’m in the process of procuring a copy of the standard document that is issued to priests when they are laicized that spells these matters out. As soon as I have it and can get it typed in, I’ll post it so that people can see for themselves what the general rules are. (That way they don’t have to take me at my word; they can read the document for themselves.)
I hope to have this done later in the week, though it might stretch into next week. Please stop back by and check.
Would you say your a liberal or conservative Catholic? I can’t understand how people can consider themselves liberal and Catholic.
I don’t know whether you’re using the terms "liberal" and "conservative" in a political or a theological sense, though I suspect the latter. Theologically, I strive to be a scrupulously orthodox Catholic, which you might call conservative.
As for the bunny story, why do you bother to post this kind of trash? Shouldn’t your posts directed at furthering God’s word?
God made us to have a sense of humor and to spend time on things other than theology. He meant us to live full orbed lives and to be interested in many topics. I try to reflect this on my blog by using humor (like the ongoing "The Easter Bunny is EVIL!" joke) and by posting about topics other than religion so that we can marvel together about other aspects of God’s creation and the human spirit (which is part of his creation).
Interested in answers.
I hope these help!
One subject that you raised but didn’t put into the form of a question is my qualifications to do all this.
My academic training is in philosophy, which intersects to a considerable degree with the work I do. I am also an autodidact who has managed to acquire a background in apologetics, biblical studies, theology, liturgy, canon law, and related disciplines.
Because I have learned this material on my own, I do not have an institution such as the Church or a university that has put its seal of approval on me (in areas other than philosophy) and said, "Listen to this guy; he knows what he’s talking about."
In the absence of such a seal of approval, the only defense there is for my answers is making sure that they are right. I can’t rely for my credibility on the fact that someone else has vouched for me.
Since no institution has handed me a reputation for accuracy by putting its seal of approval on me, the only way I can build a reputation for accuracy is by regularly being accurate and showing why my answers are accurate. That’s another of the reasons I "show my work" by backing them up with Church documents and spelling out the reasoning behind the conclusions I offer so that people can evaluate them for themselves.
This means I go to more pains to make sure that I’m right than if I had an institutional seal of approval. If I were a priest, for example, I could often get along by just saying "This is the way it is," and many people wouldn’t challenge me (especially to my face) because I was a priest. Not being a priest, I don’t have that luxury, so I have to go to extra lengths to ensure accuracy since truth is the only defense I have.
Hope this helps, and hope you’ll keep reading!
You did not study at a Catholic university under someone like Fr. McBrien and do not have to seek the approval of some wishy-washy bishop* who opposes the Church’s teachings on, for example, sexual morality.
Sounds like you meet two of the greatest requirements for being an orthodox teacher of the faith! You get the apologetics code of authenticity seal of approval!
*(Note: I do not know who Jimmy’s bishop is nor do I presume to know how orthodox he is.)
This reminds me of what I say when people ask what kind of background and training I have in art.
I tell them that I have a Masters Degree in Fine Art, but that I am recovering nicely.
I believe it was an honest answer to an honest question, no need to mock it.
Hey, Dude,
I am a Certified Adult Catechist,
certified by the California Catholic Conference of Bishops.
I have the nice paper certificate with the gold seal to prove it.
That’s means that the Bishops trust me to be able to teach.
Although no bishop ever asked me about this.
Because I was certified by a Master Catechist.
Who had a rainbow bumper sticker on his car,
and has since left the employ of the Diocese.
And let me tell you about my fellow Catechist classmates. (Everyone gets certified if they
(a) pay; (b) show up.)
Some thought the New Testament only had four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). They are Certified Catechists.
Some thought that Jesus was not fully human (an ancient heresy!). They are Certified Catechists.
Some thought that Jesus did not have any sexuality. They are Certified Catechists. (I asked them, “Well, then, how was he circumcised?”)
Just becuase someone has “credentials,” even episcopal credentials, doesn’t mean they have a clue.
So I did a little research and found that you work for Catholic Answers.com, but that still doesn’t answer the question.
It doesn’t? Karl would be amused to hear that.
Bishop Fulton Sheen once predicted the day will come when the best way to lose your faith would be to go to a Catholic university.
And Mike,
Either you are diving way too deep into the sea of sarcasm in an attempt to reach my level, or you are just sitting on the surface of the text of our responses.
“I believe it was an honest answer to an honest question, no need to mock it.”
Did somebody mock something? I didn’t, or didn’t mean to.
Perhaps its a bit of an aside, but I for one truly appreciate posts like the Easter Bunny one. I would hate to see you stop posting “fun” stuff in addition to more religious fare.
I’ll also say, that when you post “fun” stuff, I often share the link with athiest/agnostic friends. Who knows, they might just look around your blog while they’re here.
I hear you, Old Zhou.
The Master Catechists I trained under were more accurately anti-catechists.
There was no fundamental aspect of the faith they did not try to systematically undermine.
It was poison.
Relying on credentials is tricky. Someone with a doctorate in theology, for example, may be a specialist in a very very very small area of that discipline and may had very little exposure to the other areas.
I love the fun stuff!
We have to wait till October for more BSG! Waaaa!
“Lighten up Francis.”
I was asked to become a certified catechist. I politely declined. The teacher was one of those people who referred to “the Matthean author” and “the Pauline author”. Funny, I always thought St. Paul was a real person.
Yup, I agree that certain “certifications” are not worth the paper on which they’re written. One of my co-catechists (teaching teen-aged candidates for Confirmation) had these two things to say in front of my class:
1. Peter wasn’t the first pope.
2. The sacrament of Holy Orders includes nuns.
I had to take her aside and correct her, and then set the class straight.
‘thann
“Lighten up Francis.”
Huh? I was commenting on Jimmy’s post, not on other people’s comments.
Basically, I meant that credentials may mean little. Though Jimmy never finished high school, he’s done enough self-studying to reach a very high level of knowledge about the faith, apologetics, scripture, etc.
(uhm..that bit about Jimmy being a dropout is a little lightening up..he’s so cute I often feel I could poke fun at him and he won’t get mad).
good answer to the question Jimmy. After listening to CA live and reading This Rock, I feel comfortable that I’m getting the straight scoop from you. I’m a cradle Catholic who grew up learning an opinion on what the Catholic Church should be and not what She actually teaches. I personally really appreciate the work you do that helped me get back to the Church.
I have been troubled by the apparent excessive use of eucharistic ministers (extrodinary ministers) at Mass when priests pop in just prior to the point and sit at the back with the rest of us and “watch” it all. It rubs me the wrong way. Am I wrong to feel this way? It is especially bothersome to me that this gives the appearance (espec. to a visitor) that the Priest does not care who does his job.
Our DRE (with all the right educational and diocesan credentials!) says that the Holy Spirit leads some women to leave the Catholic Church and become Episcopal priests! So much for credentials!
Would you say your a liberal or conservative Catholic? I can’t understand how people can consider themselves liberal and Catholic.
We’re Catholic. Plain and simple. I cannot stand people who start saying I’m such and such kind of a Catholic. Catholics are Catholics. Being universal we need to stop these evil shenanegans about what we like and don’t like about our parishes and certain teachings of the Church. What ever happened to putting our faith in Jesus guiding his Church? What ever happened to “The gates of hell will not prevail against it”?
Nick,
I appreciate your comment and think I understand (and agree with) your general point of view. We should all strive to simply be “Catholic.”
However, the reality is there are different kinds of Catholis. Good Catholics and bad Catholics. Orthodox Catholics and heterdox Catholics. Good/orthodox simply means that we assent to both the authority and infallible teaching of the Church and try, with he help of grace, to life a virtous life pleasing to God by loving Him and our neighbor as ourself. It would be folly to claim certain men and women who dissent from Church teaching on faith and morals, and do so knowingly and intentionally, are “good” Catholics.
We also have a resonsibility to make ourselves respectfully heard when our conscience calls us to defend some aspect of Catholic teaching (even from those within the heirarchy). A letter writing campaign to encourage Bishop Lynch to speak out on behalf of Terry Schiavo was totally appropriate. On a smaller level, I cringe at the lack of reverence among some people at my parish when they receive Holy Communion. My conscience dictates that I must respectfully encourage my pastor to address this issue.
So, to the extent your comment was meant to address immature pouting about personal preferences, I agree wholeheartedly with you. People need to grow up and see the big picture. But, important issues require our vigilance. The Church will certainly prefail against the gates of hell. However, we are called as faithful Catholics to participate in its inevitable triumph, rather than unwittingly aiding the enemy in the battle.
Peace.
Thanks for keeping this blog diverse enough to be entertaining and Catholic enough to be educational and uplifting Jimmy!
Jimmy,
You said you are working on a paper on laicized priests and their place in the parish. I don’t think that’s the question the original writer was asking. I think he wants to know about married priests. Similar to the question here
John
“Lighten up Francis.”
I was referring to:
“As for the bunny story, why do you bother to post this kind of trash? Shouldn’t your posts directed at furthering God’s word?”
“Lighten up Francis.” Is probably one of the great movies comebacks of all time and is taken from the movie Stripes. Whenever I read someone taking life too seriously, I add this to the comments in the hope of it being recognized for what it is: universal good advise. Think of it as a rubber stamp on an incendiary paper memo.
Jimmy doesn’t have his HS diploma?!
🙂
Somebody had to keep the rumor going.
Having read many catholic opinions on many blogs I find Jimmy’s one of the best. He is beyond clear on where the “Straight Answer” begins and ends and where his opinion (always well informed) is. Others manage to mush the two together leaving the idea that their opinions are doctrine.
I suspect that many of the bishops would do well to consult Jimmy before they toss their opinions into the ring.
Chiming in here to say that I really enjoy the funny asides. The pop culture entries are appreciated, too. (Even if I don’t watch BSG.) They’re no less Catholic for being funny.