Folia Theologica 2. (1991)
Francisco J. Urrkutia: The Magisterium: how it works
18 FJ. URRUTIA rejection of contraception as beyond discussion, even though he did not have in mind to propose it as an infallible teaching, in the understanding of the vast majority of theologians. The present pope, for his part, could not have been more explicit regarding his intention when he reaffirmed Paul Vi’s teaching.1 This means, that in such cases, the H. Father proposes his teaching as certain and certitude excludes the reasonable possibility of the contrary proposition being true. 4. Let us, for a moment, consider how much this concept of the authentic teaching of the H. Father differs from the concept proposed by some outspoken theologians who seem unable to understand a non-infallible teaching proposed as certain. Certain theologians consider it sufficient to admit that „the authoritative non-infallible teaching of the pope and bishops has a special character about it and a presumption in its favor, but it can be erroneous", to quote the words of C. CURRAN.2 Now, presumption is a juridic concept which means an inference as to the truth of what is being taught, an inference possible precisely only in the absence of certitude. The presumed truth is simply not certain. And this is why CURRAN affirms that the presumed truth can be erroneous. Later I will come back to this statement. For the moment it is enough to note that CURRAN has a differing concept on the role of the authentic non-infallible teaching of the church. While the pope some times manifests his intention of proposing a doctrine as certain, CURRAN acknowledges for that doctrine only the character of a presumed truth lacking, therefore, certitude. 5. From this, another serious practical consequence follows. The role of the authentic non-infallible teaching of the bishops and of the pope is, according to Vatican II, to guide God’s people in their concrete lives, by 1 Not long ago, while regretting the questioning of „Humanae Vitae” ’s doctrine even by theologians and pastors of souls, the pope stated: „Such position can., in fact, induce doubts on a teaching that, for the church, is certain, thus dimming the perception of truth which cannot be discussed” (to an International Congress on the XX year of „Humanae Vitae”: 14-3-1988: AAS 80(1988) 1324 (n 31). 2 Authority and Dissent, Origins 16 (1986) 376/1.
