Synod Struggles Over Inerrancy
Hmmm...synods, I imagine, are generally rather boring. A bunch of bishops and theological experts sit around having abstruse discussions about Church life and theology. But whoa, you touch the Bible and whether it's true--or at least, in what sense it is true--and zing! you've got a controversy. Thus is the case with the current Scripture Synod.
(For the record, CNS has reporter Cindy Wooton on the ground and National Catholic Reporter has John Allen Jr.)
Catholic Bible Student Notes on the Synod:
1. There's been discussion about the correct Catholic understanding of the inerrancy of Scripture. Check out this article from NCP. Looks like theres been talk concerning the debate between "restricted inerrancy" and "unrestricted inerrancy," a hot debate at Vatican II.
2. John Allen's interview with Cardinal Pell. The Cardinal says: "I would say the synod is going along very sedately and securely. I’d say there’s less division in this synod than in any synod I’ve been to." He also mentions the possibility of setting up an international Institute of Biblical Translation. He says that Cardinal George recommended that the CDF issue a statement on biblical inerrancy (in Cardinal Pell's words) "to make clear that saying the Bible is ‘inspired’ is not necessarily the same thing as claiming that it’s universally inerrant, in every way." The interview is long but makes for interesting reading.
3. Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen addressed the synod on Monday. I'm looking for video of the address if anyone finds it, please post the URL in the comments. From what I've heard it was a moving speech. Unfortunately, he made some negative comments about Pope Pius XII--there's been talk of beatifying this pope and some Jews have been upset by his supposed inaction during World War II. Other Jews like Rabbi David Dalin have defended his actions.
4. If you want to read what's actually going on at the synod without any media filter. Check out the daily bulletins released by the Vatican which include the Holy Father's homilies to the synod, short speeches by voting bishops and an outline of every day's activity.
October 3 another
October 4
October 5 (opening day of synod)
October 6 another
October 7 another
October 8
October 9 another and another
October 10 another
October 11
Ok, these are my notes so far.
(For the record, CNS has reporter Cindy Wooton on the ground and National Catholic Reporter has John Allen Jr.)
Catholic Bible Student Notes on the Synod:
1. There's been discussion about the correct Catholic understanding of the inerrancy of Scripture. Check out this article from NCP. Looks like theres been talk concerning the debate between "restricted inerrancy" and "unrestricted inerrancy," a hot debate at Vatican II.
2. John Allen's interview with Cardinal Pell. The Cardinal says: "I would say the synod is going along very sedately and securely. I’d say there’s less division in this synod than in any synod I’ve been to." He also mentions the possibility of setting up an international Institute of Biblical Translation. He says that Cardinal George recommended that the CDF issue a statement on biblical inerrancy (in Cardinal Pell's words) "to make clear that saying the Bible is ‘inspired’ is not necessarily the same thing as claiming that it’s universally inerrant, in every way." The interview is long but makes for interesting reading.
3. Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen addressed the synod on Monday. I'm looking for video of the address if anyone finds it, please post the URL in the comments. From what I've heard it was a moving speech. Unfortunately, he made some negative comments about Pope Pius XII--there's been talk of beatifying this pope and some Jews have been upset by his supposed inaction during World War II. Other Jews like Rabbi David Dalin have defended his actions.
4. If you want to read what's actually going on at the synod without any media filter. Check out the daily bulletins released by the Vatican which include the Holy Father's homilies to the synod, short speeches by voting bishops and an outline of every day's activity.
October 3 another
October 4
October 5 (opening day of synod)
October 6 another
October 7 another
October 8
October 9 another and another
October 10 another
October 11
Ok, these are my notes so far.
1 Comments:
Cardinal Pell's statement on inerrancy is a rehash of what he said ten years ago in a Catholic newspaper. It goes against everything magisterium has had to say on the matter and unfortunately is based on the usual confusion on Genesis. I'd recommend people to read paragraph thirty six of Pascendi Dominici Gregis.
Probably the single highest human authority on the interpretation of DV 11 (i.e non magisterial) would be Cardinal Augustine Bea. . As former Rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and Co-President of the drafting Commission for Dei Verbum, Bea enjoyed the particular confidence of Paul VI when it came to biblical matters: the Pope more than once publicly quoted him and praised his work in that area. In a work published shortly before his death, Bea, who had presided at the last key meeting of the conciliar Commission at which the text of DV #11 was finalized, devotes several pages (187-190) to its redactional history and correct interpretation. His verdict is unambiguous: “Let us ask, therefore, if the text we have now implies a restrictive interpretation of inerrancy. Here also the answer is certainly negative."
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