The teaching authority of the church is an important concept, well – known and widely accepted. Less well-known is the importance of conscience, at the level of the individual, and of the ‘sensus fidelii’ at the communal level. This leads me to a notion of an ‘obligation to dissent’ in certain circumstances. This is a theme I will return to repeatedly. In the meantime, The Wild Reed has drawn my attention to an important article, Balancing Integrity and Obedience, in which Collen Kochivar – Baker (of Enlightened Catholicism) explores the same theme in different words.
For a short extract from this article, see The Wild Reed . For a fuller exploration of the idea, follow Michael’s links at the foot of the extract, or explore his useful archives.
Related Articles
- Benedict to step into buzz saw of dissent during upcoming UK visit (ncronline.org)
- The Culture War Majority of the Catholic Bishops Seize the Day (opentabernacle.wordpress.com)
- The Nomadic Catholic: “Is God Telling Me To Leave?” (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
