JOHN PAUL II
Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio
AD TUENDAM FIDEM,
by which certain norms are inserted
into the Code of Canon Law
and into the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
TO PROTECT THE FAITH of the Catholic Church against
errors arising from certain members of the Christian faithful, especially from
among those dedicated to the various disciplines of sacred theology, we, whose
principal duty is to confirm the brethren in the faith (Lk 22:32), consider it
absolutely necessary to add to the existing texts of the Code of Canon Law and
the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, new norms which expressly impose
the obligation of upholding truths proposed in a definitive way by the
Magisterium of the Church, and which also establish related canonical sanctions.
1. From the first centuries to the present day, the
Church has professed the truths of her faith in Christ and the mystery of his
redemption. These truths were subsequently gathered into the Symbols of the
faith, today known and proclaimed in common by the faithful in the solemn and
festive celebration of Mass as the Apostles’ Creed or the
Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
This same Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is contained
in the Profession of faith developed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith,(1) which must be made by specific members of the faithful when they
receive an office, that is directly or indirectly related to deeper
investigation into the truths of faith and morals, or is united to a particular
power in the governance of the Church.(2)
2. The Profession of faith, which appropriately begins
with the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, contains three propositions or
paragraphs intended to describe the truths of the Catholic faith, which the
Church, in the course of time and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit “who
will teach the whole truth” (Jn 16:13), has ever more deeply explored and will
continue to explore.(3)
The first paragraph states: “With firm faith, I also
believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down
in Tradition, which the Church either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary
and universal Magisterium sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed.”(4)
This paragraph appropriately confirms and is provided for in the Church’s
universal legislation, in canon 750 of the Code of Canon Law(5) and canon 598
of the Code of the Canons of the Eastern
Churches.(6)
The third paragraph states: “Moreover I adhere with
submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman
Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic
Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a
definitive act.”(7) This paragraph has its corresponding legislative expression
in canon 752 of the Code of Canon Law(8) and canon 599 of the Code of Canons of
the Eastern Churches.(9)
3. The second paragraph, however, which states “I also
firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church
regarding teaching on faith and morals,”(10) has no corresponding canon in the
Codes of the Catholic Church. This second paragraph of the Profession of faith
is of utmost importance since it refers to truths that are necessarily
connected to divine revelation. These truths, in the investigation of Catholic
doctrine, illustrate the Divine Spirit’s particular inspiration for the
Church’s deeper understanding of a truth concerning faith and morals, with
which they are connected either for historical reasons or by a logical
relationship.
4. Moved therefore by this need, and after careful
deliberation, we have decided to overcome this lacuna in the universal law in
the following way:
A) Canon 750 of the Code of Canon Law will now consist
of two paragraphs; the first will present the text of the existing canon; the
second will contain a new text. Thus, canon 750, in its complete form, will
read:
Canon 750 – § 1. Those things are to be believed by
divine and catholic faith which are contained in the word of God as it has been
written or handed down by tradition, that is, in the single deposit of faith
entrusted to the Church, and which are at the same time proposed as divinely
revealed either by the solemn Magisterium of the Church, or by its ordinary and
universal Magisterium, which in fact is manifested by the common adherence of
Christ’s faithful under the guidance of the sacred Magisterium. All are
therefore bound to avoid any contrary doctrines.
§ 2. Furthermore, each and everything set forth
definitively by the Magisterium of the Church regarding teaching on faith and
morals must be firmly accepted and held; namely, those things required for the
holy keeping and faithful exposition of the deposit of faith; therefore, anyone
who rejects propositions which are to be held definitively sets himself against
the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Canon 1371, n. 1 of the Code of Canon Law,
consequently, will receive an appropriate reference to canon 750 § 2, so that
it will now read:
Canon 1371 – The following are to be punished with a
just penalty:
1° a person who, apart from the case mentioned in
canon 1364 § 1, teaches a doctrine condemned by the Roman Pontiff, or by an
Ecumenical Council, or obstinately rejects the teachings mentioned in canon 750
§ 2 or in canon 752 and, when warned by the Apostolic See or by the Ordinary,
does not retract;
2° a person who in any other way does not obey the
lawful command or prohibition of the Apostolic See or the Ordinary or Superior
and, after being warned, persists in disobedience.
B) Canon 598 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches will now have two paragraphs: the
first will present the text of the existing canon and
the second will contain a new text. Thus canon 598, in its complete form, will
read as follows:
Canon 598 – § 1. Those things are to be believed by
divine and catholic faith which are contained in the word of God as it has been
written or handed down by tradition, that is, in the single deposit of faith
entrusted to the Church, and which are at the same time proposed as divinely
revealed either by the solemn Magisterium of the Church, or by its ordinary and
universal Magisterium, which in fact is manifested by the common adherence of
Christ’s faithful under the guidance of the sacred Magisterium. All Christian
faithful are therefore bound to avoid any contrary doctrines.
§ 2. Furthermore, each and everything set forth
definitively by the Magisterium of the Church regarding teaching on faith and
morals must be firmly accepted and held; namely, those things required for the
holy keeping and faithful exposition of the deposit of faith; therefore, anyone
who rejects propositions which are to be held definitively sets himself against
the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Canon 1436 § 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches, consequently, will receive an appropriate reference to canon 598 § 2,
so that it will now read:
Canon 1436 – § 1. Whoever denies a truth which must be
believed with divine and catholic faith, or who calls into doubt, or who
totally repudiates the Christian faith, and does not retract after having been
legitimately warned, is to be punished as a heretic or an apostate with a major
excommunication; a cleric moreover can be punished with other penalties, not
excluding deposition.
§ 2. In addition to these cases, whoever obstinately
rejects a teaching that the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops, exercising
the authentic Magisterium, have set forth to be held definitively, or who
affirms what they have condemned as erroneous, and does not retract after
having been legitimately warned, is to be punished with an appropriate penalty.
5. We order that everything decreed by us in this
Apostolic Letter, given motu proprio, be established and ratified, and we
prescribe that the insertions listed above be introduced into the universal
legislation of the Catholic Church, that is, into the Code of Canon Law and
into the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, all things to the contrary
notwithstanding.
Given in Rome, at St Peter’s, on 28 May, in the year
1998, the twentieth of our Pontificate.
(1)
CONGREGATION
FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Profession of Faith and. Oath of Fidelity, (9
January 1989): AAS 81 (1989), 105
(2)
Cf. Code of
Canon Law, Canon 833.
(3)
Cf. Code of
Canon Law, Canon 747 § 1; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 595 §
1.
(4)
Cf. SECOND
VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium,
25; Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, 5; CONGREGATION FOR
THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian
Donum veritatis (24 May 1990), 15: AAS 82 (1990), 1556.
(5)
Code of Canon
Law, Canon 750 – Those things are to be believed by divine and catholic faith
which are contained in the word of God as it has been written or handed down by
tradition, that is, in the single deposit of faith entrusted to the Church, and
which are at the same time proposed asdivinely revealed either by the solemn
Magisterium of the Church, or by its ordinary and universal Magisterium, which
in fact is manifested by the common adherence of Christ’s faithful under the
guidance of the sacred Magisterium. All are therefore bound to avoid any
contrary doctrines.
(6)
Code of
Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 598 – Those things are to be believed by
divine and catholic faith which are contained in the word of God as it has been
written or handed down by tradition, that is, in the single deposit of faith
entrusted to the Church, and which are at the same time proposed as divinely
revealed either by the solemn Magisterium of the Church, or by its ordinary and
universal Magisterium, which in fact is manifested by the common adherence of
Christ’s faithful under the guidance of the sacred Magisterium. All Christian
faithful are therefore bound to avoid any contrary doctrines.
(7)
Cf.
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Instruction on the Ecclesial
Vocation of the Theologian Donum veritatis (24 May 1990), 17: AAS 82 (1990),
1557.
(8)
Code of Canon
Law, Canon 752 – While the assent of faith is not required, a religious
submission of intellect and will is to be given to any doctrine which either
the Supreme Pontiff or the College of Bishops, exercising their authentic
Magisterium, declare upon a matter of faith and morals, even though they do not
intend to proclaim that doctrine by definitive act. Christ’s faithful are
therefore to ensure that they avoid whatever does not accord with that
doctrine.
(9)
Code of
Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 599 – While the assent of faith is not
required, a religious submission of intellect and will is to be given to any
doctrine which either the Supreme Pontiff or the College of Bishops, exercising
their authentic Magisterium, declare upon a matter of faith and morals, even
though they do not intend to proclaim that doctrine by definitive act. Christ’s
faithful are therefore to ensure that they avoid whatever does not accord with
that doctrine.
(10)
Cf.
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Instruction on the Ecclesial
Vocation of the Theologian Donum veritatis (24 May 1990), 16: AAS 82 (1990),
1557.