The Vatican’s International Theological Commission has clarified the meaning, purpose and limits of sensus fidei and sensus fidelium – the capacity of individual believers and of the Church as a whole to discern the truth of faith.

The theologians said that while the validity and importance of Church teachings cannot be the subject of a popular vote, the degree to which they are or are not accepted by most Catholics is important.

“When the reception of magisterial teaching by the faithful meets with difficulty and resistance appropriate action on both sides is required”. Catholics “must reflect on the teaching that has been given, making every effort to understand and accept it,” they said.

“Resistance, as a matter of principle, to the teaching of the magisterium is incompatible with the authentic sensus fidei.”

At the same time, the theologians said, “the magisterium must likewise reflect on the teaching that has been given and consider whether it needs clarification or reformulation in order to communicate more effectively the essential message.”

Greater freedom for Church in Mexico

On June 19, both houses of the Mexican Congress mellowed electoral laws which prohibited priests from what the State considered to be influencing voters. Mexico has a very long tradition of state-sponsored anti-clericalism.

The move was considered to be as an increase in religious liberty in the country.

The amendments modify Article 16 of the law governing crimes associated with the electoral process and which up till now prohibited priests from providing people with information on how to vote.

Fr Hugo Valdemar Romero, spokesman for the archdiocese of Mexico City, said that the law had confused orienting (people on electoral issues) with inducing people how to vote. He said the new law tried to clear the confusion that existed.

Fr Romero has been denounced five times to the Interior Ministry for statements on social matters.

Pope tears into Mafia

During a one-day pastoral visit to Calabria, southern Italy, Pope Francis tore into the Calabrian Mafia, calling it “adoration of evil and contempt for the common good”.

“Those who in their lives have taken this evil road, this road of evil, such as the mobsters, they are not in communion with God, they are excommunicated,” he said.

The Pope said the Mafia was fuelled by the adoration of money. He told the Calabresi that their beautiful land was scarred by the consequence of this sin and exhorted everyone to fight this evil, which must be expelled. He called the faithful of the Church in Calabria to show each other practical solidarity, noting signs of hope in local families and in the Church.

‘Don’t go away. Resist’

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Gregory III Laham, urged Christians in Syria: “Don’t go away! Wait! Resist! You are the little flock, the little flock with a big role.”

The Patriarch noted that “91 churches have been destroyed or damaged” in Syria, “including 37 Melkite Greek Catholic ones”. He added that the Syrian crisis has to be seen in the context of the crisis affecting Lebanon and Iraq. He augured that the new Egyptian President would restore stability and security to Egypt.

He said the Church’s greatest pastoral care and responsibility was to maintain the presence of Christians in the area to be salt and leaven forever in the region.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)