Can Church Decrees be Overturned?
Question: I have some interconnected questions: Moses allowed divorce for Israelites, and this was countermanded by Jesus. Was there a change in authority at some point, and if so, did that discredit Moses as a prophet and leader? Does this indicate a possibility that the current and past hierarchies are open to error in their pronouncements? Could any one of their decrees be overturned?
Answer: The Catholic Church regards Moses as an important figure in salvation history and as a prophet who received divine revelation. The Old Testament, including the books attributed to Moses, is part of Sacred Scripture. Significantly, at the Transfiguration, Christ was joined by Elijah, representing the Prophets, and Moses, representing the Law, indicating their primary position in Jesus’ theology.
However, the only authority in this question is God’s. Moses had no authority from God to allow divorce. Strictly speaking, the so-called Law of Moses is essentially the Ten Commandments, given to him by God. Moses’ role was to teach and uphold these.
Yet he gave way to the men of his time because divorce appears to have been common among them. Jesus corrected Moses’ leniency by saying: “It was not like this from the beginning”, adding that a man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery (Matthew 19:8). The Church has firmly held on to this divine command.
The fact that some Mosaic laws were adapted — as did the Apostles when they abandoned Jewish dietary prescriptions and the demand for male circumcision — reflects the progressive revelation and development of understanding throughout salvation history.
The pope and infallibility
As for the possibility of error in Church pronouncements: As the successor of St Peter, the pope has the charism of infallibility, but only when he speaks ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals. This means that under certain conditions, the pope is protected from error by the Holy Spirit. However, this infallibility is limited to very rare and specific circumstances and does not extend to every pronouncement made by him or Church authorities.
The Church acknowledges that human beings, including the Church hierarchy, are capable of making mistakes and errors in judgment in non-infallible teachings or decisions. The authority of the hierarchy, which is exercised by the pope and the bishops in communion with him, is based on the belief that Jesus Christ entrusted the apostles with the mission of teaching, governing, and sanctifying the Church.
The Church teaches that this authority is guided by the Holy Spirit, but it does not mean that every decision or pronouncement made by Church leaders is perfect or, depending on the forum in which they expressed, even binding.
The authority of the hierarchy is exercised within the framework of the deposit of faith, which includes Scripture and Tradition, but specific decisions may refer to particular circumstances and conditions, and are made within the context of the scientific and social understanding of their times.
Since such conditions change and knowledge develops over time, some — but certainly not all — Church teachings may evolve and change.
- White SA Church leaders respond to Trump - February 13, 2025
- Pope Francis’ Message for World Day of the Sick - February 11, 2025
- May We Scatter the Ashes Of Loved Ones? - February 11, 2025