Out of contact
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Oct 19, 2004
The Catholic News Service-- which is subsidized by the US bishops' conference-- has a very different take on the story that has stirred up such a ruckus on CWN.
Did a California canon lawyer seek a response from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?
"The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has had no contact with Mr. (Marc) Balestrieri," said Dominican Father Augustine DiNoia, undersecretary of the congregation.
That looks like a strong, sweeping statement. He had "no contact."
The CNS story continues:
The questions Balestrieri wrote in Latin and sent to the congregation asked whether the church's condemnation of abortion is a matter of Catholic faith and dogma for which opposition would constitute heresy.
So he did write to the CDF. (He also went to the office, sat down with a CDF official, and talked for a while.) Still, he had "no contact."
Kinda makes you wonder what "contact" actually means.
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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