Q. How does the Catholic Church scrutinize moral issues?

A. Recently there seems to be a daily news story about the Catholic Church's teaching on moral issues, and on the reception of Holy Communion. It may be helpful to review some basic facts about these topics.

First, it is the task of the pope and the bishops in union with him to pronounce doctrine for the Church. This teaching function of the bishops is often called the magisterium. No other individual or group may pronounce a doctrine as 'Catholic' or define the Catholic position on an issue. Even if the majority of Catholics were to believe something, that is not a Catholic belief unless it agrees with the teaching of the bishops. The bishops are the successors of the apostles, and have been given by Christ himself the authority to teach. Therefore, a group which is composed of Catholics, which attempts to teach something contrary to the bishops' in the area of faith or morals, is not teaching authentically.

Second, Catholics are morally obliged to give religious assent of the will to official Church teachings on faith and morals. Every Catholic should strive to overcome his or her difficulties in believing what the Church proposes as having been revealed by God. No Catholic may assume that his or her own point of view carries equal weight to the teaching of the Church. No Catholic may assume that the opinion of other persons or groups has equal weight to the teachings of the Church.

Third, if a situation develops with an individual Catholic in which he or she finds that their conscience requires them to come to a conclusion different from that of the Church's magisterium, they must obey their conscience. However, their conscience is not an alternative magisterium. Such Catholics must make every effort to bring their conscience into conformity with the teachings of the Church through prayer, study, reception of the sacraments, and consultation with their proper pastor. It is not sufficient to simply decide that one's opinion differs and to leave it at that. No Catholic should attempt to lobby or to persuade others to reject the teaching of the Church.

Fourth, all this rests on a claim by the Church that it was founded by Christ, to preach Christ, and to be his instrument of salvation for the world. Christ established the Church's 'constitutional' form of internal governance by bishops. Christ has sent his Spirit to the Church, and the Spirit keeps it from error on fundamental issues. The Spirit is given to the Church and will remain with the Church to the end of the world.

It may be good to end with a paraphrase of St. Augustine: in important things, unity; in unimportant things, diversity; in all things, charity.