Context
Based on Francis Sullivan's Magisterium: Teaching Authority in the Catholic Church, the current table's single "Magisterial Type" column (Extraordinary / Ordinary) is insufficient to capture the graded nature of Magisterial authority.
Problem
The current table reduces teaching authority to a binary Extraordinary/Ordinary distinction. Sullivan argues (and Ratzinger and Dulles broadly agree) that Magisterial authority operates on multiple independent axes, not a single spectrum.
Proposed Change
Replace the current Magisterial Type column with multiple columns representing distinct axes:
| Axis |
Values |
Description |
| Mode of Teaching |
Extraordinary / Ordinary Universal / Authentic (Ordinary) |
How the teaching is exercised |
| Intent |
Definitive / Non-definitive |
Whether the teaching is proposed as final |
| Binding Force |
Irreformable / Reformable |
Whether the teaching can be revised |
| Required Assent |
Fides divina et catholica / Religiosum obsequium / Prudential |
The type of assent owed by the faithful |
This multi-axis model prevents collapsing all Magisterium into one layer, which Sullivan explicitly warns against.
References
- Francis A. Sullivan, Magisterium: Teaching Authority in the Catholic Church (1983)
- CDF, Donum Veritatis (1990), esp. §§15–24 on levels of assent
- Ad Tuendam Fidem (1998), John Paul II
Context
Based on Francis Sullivan's Magisterium: Teaching Authority in the Catholic Church, the current table's single "Magisterial Type" column (Extraordinary / Ordinary) is insufficient to capture the graded nature of Magisterial authority.
Problem
The current table reduces teaching authority to a binary Extraordinary/Ordinary distinction. Sullivan argues (and Ratzinger and Dulles broadly agree) that Magisterial authority operates on multiple independent axes, not a single spectrum.
Proposed Change
Replace the current
Magisterial Typecolumn with multiple columns representing distinct axes:This multi-axis model prevents collapsing all Magisterium into one layer, which Sullivan explicitly warns against.
References