Responsum ad Dubium
October 28, 1995
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Concerning the Teaching Contained in
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Dubium: Whether the teaching that the Church has no authority whatsoever
to
confer priestly ordination on women, which is presented in the Apostolic
Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis to be held definitively, is to be understood
as belonging to the deposit of faith.
Responsum: In the affirmative.
This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written
Word
of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in
the
Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary
and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution
on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances,
the
Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren
(cf.
Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration,
explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all,
as
belonging to the deposit of the faith.
The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience granted to the
undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved this Reply, adopted in the ordinary
session of this Congregation, and ordered it to be published.
Rome, from the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
on
the Feast of the Apostles SS. Simon and Jude, October 28, 1995.
+ Joseph Card. Ratzinger
Prefect
+ Tarcisio Bertone
Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli
Secretary
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