“Called to Communion” is a Catholic website that Francis Beckwith frequently plugs. It consists of dropouts from evangelicalism (with a Reformed accent).
What's ironic about this is that, on the one hand, they convert to Catholicism because sola scriptura doesn't afford them the degree of guidance they say they need. There's no substitute of a divine teaching office, ya know.
On the other hand, as soon as they convert, who do they turn to for theological advice? Do they consult their parish priest? No. Their local bishop? No.
Instead, they form a circle of Catholic converts (or reverts) and then proceed to gaze at their collective navals for theological enlightenment. Francis Beckwith gazes at the navel of Bryan Cross, who gazes at the navel of Neal Judisch, who gazes at the navel of Taylor Marshall, who gazes at the naval of Tim Troutman, &c.
They turn to each other for theological insight. This is just like a schismatic sect in which disgruntled members split with their church and form a breakaway church–consisting of themselves. By and for themselves.
I've wondered about that myself. These guys spend a great deal of time engaging in private interpretation in order to tell us that we can't engage in private interpretation.
ReplyDeleteIt's tempting to want to refute every argument by asking whether their point has been officially established by the magisterium.
Louis,
ReplyDeleteYour comment is pretty funny.
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Here's a comment on an Episcopalian/Anglican blog by a fellow named Carl that caught my attention:
1. The Content of Scripture cannot be known absent the RCC.
2. The meaning of Scripture cannot be known absent the RCC.
So even though Rome might claim to place itself under the formal authority of Scripture, it has in fact placed itself functionally above Scripture and beyond its correction. For only Rome can define its content, and only Rome can discern its meaning. Only Rome knows the opaque mass of oral teaching, without the knowledge of which Rome claims Scripture to be impenetrable. In Roman practice, then, men do not listen to the Scriptures but instead to the mediating authority. And the mediating authority cannot be wrong.
If I deny Roman claims on the basis of Scripture, Rome will not dispute with me, but will instead assert its authority and demand my submission. It will deny I have any ability to understand Scripture on my own. It will assert the necessity of Sacred Tradition. It will assert the necessity of the Magisterium. It will assert its own authority. It will tell me I risk eternal damnation for defying its dogmatic pronouncements. It will say “Turn aside from your own understanding and listen to me instead.” But I do not require mediated access to the Scriptures. They are sufficient to accomplish the task for which they were given. And Rome cannot tell me otherwise.
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I wonder what the Called to Communion guys would say about that.
Just for the record, I've never seen Tim Troutman's belly button...
ReplyDeleteWe at Called to Communion are not engaged in private interpretation because we submit to infallible dogmatic declarations (e.g. transubstantiation with regard to the Eucharist), and not to fallible confessions of faith (WCF) and not to fallible teachers (e.g. Calvin).
Whereas Protestants are free to differ with one another on infant baptism, the definition of a sacrament, the nature of justification, church polity, women's ordination, etc., we Catholics must submit our minds to the Holy Catholic Church, the true mother and teacher of all the faithful.
TAYLOR MARSHALL SAID:
ReplyDeleteWe at Called to Communion are not engaged in private interpretation because we submit to infallible dogmatic declarations (e.g. transubstantiation with regard to the Eucharist), and not to fallible confessions of faith (WCF) and not to fallible teachers (e.g. Calvin).
Whereas Protestants are free to differ with one another on infant baptism, the definition of a sacrament, the nature of justification, church polity, women's ordination, etc., we Catholics must submit our minds to the Holy Catholic Church, the true mother and teacher of all the faithful.
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And you must make private use of your own minds to read the mind of Mother Church. So you've traded private interpretation for private telepathy.
I assure you, dear author, that we are in communion with our priests and bishops. Why our discussion amongst ourselves would preclude such a possibility is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Marshall and the other Called to Communion guys, have you read this post by C. Michael Patton titled: Dear Pope, What is up with Genesis?
ReplyDeleteExcerpt:
Since the Magisterium, headed by the Pope, has been handed this deposit of faith and authority, they alone can interpret Scripture with fidelity. In other words, if there is an issue about the interpretation of Scripture, private interpretation is not an option. While Catholics can read Scripture, they are not allowed to interpret it independently.
While these are significant and divisive, without question the issue that has caused more division in the church over the last century, Catholic or Protestant, is the issue of evolution.
this issue is as divisive as any issue in the history of the church. The lines have been drawn. The questions is, can Rome come in and fulfill its primary purpose? Can the Magisterium draw from the deposit of faith and interpret the Scripture so that this matter is settled, bringing unity to this religious anarchy among those who claim Christ?
Do you see the basic problem here? The Roman Catholic Church is not doing is job. Why? Why can’t the Pope clear the interpretive air and let us know, infallabily and and finally, how we are to read this text and how to shape our theology? Why can’t the Roman Catholic Church bring unity here?
Here are the options as I see it:
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