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Thursday, March 17, 2016

On the Evolution of Dogma and the Hermeneutic of Continuity

From the period of 1910 to 1967, Catholic seminarians were required to swear a solemn oath which contained the following clause:
I entirely reject the heretical misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously. - Pope St. Pius X, Oath Against Modernism, 1910.
In an interview published recently, Benedict XVI made the following observation in regards to the perennial teaching extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, "Outside of the Church there is no Salvation":
There is no doubt that on this point we are faced with a profound evolution of dogma. - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 2016.
In other words, what was once formally condemned as heretical is now to be accepted as undoubtedly true.

We have always been at war with Eastasia.

I used to think that Hermeneutic of Continuity meant reading the documents of Vatican II in light of Tradition. Perhaps it once did, at least in theory. Only recently, however, has the truth of the matter become clear to me:

Hermeneutic of Continuity - in practice - means reading Tradition in light of Vatican II.

Imagine there's no Rupture, Winston. It's easy if you try.

UPDATE: Christopher Ferrara has written a good analysis of the interview at The Remnant.

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