(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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AD TUENDAM FIDEM
APOSTOLIC LETTER OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
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 Churchs 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
Spirits particular inspiration for the Churchs 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 Christs 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 § 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 Christs 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 Peters, on 28 May, in the year 1998, the twentieth of our
Pontificate.