Intervention of Card. Baum at the Second Extraordinary Synod in 1985
Oct 15, 2004
"The Church, in the Word of God,
Celebrates the Mysteries of Christ
for the Salvation of the World"
Today a new problem is being raised: that of determining the limits of historical-critical method. We often hear accusations that scientific exegesis has become closed in on itself, becoming autonomous and torn away from the faith. There is a rupture between Bible and Church, between Scripture and Tradition. Frequently the work of exegetes is purely critical - dealing with the original formation of the text - and makes little effort to penetrate its inner meaning. Bowing before the exigencies of "science," exegetes are no longer disposed to interpret Scripture in the light of faith, and hence they end up calling in question essential truths of faith, such as the divinity of Christ, the Virginal conception, the salvific and redeeming value of Christ's death, the reality of the Resurrection, and the institution of the Church by Christ.
The results of this so-called scientific exegesis are being diffused in seminaries, theological faculties and universities. They are reaching the ordinary faithful now, by means of catechisms and even at times in preaching. Dei Verbum had recommended a scientific exegesis, but within the limits of our faith: in this field the mere application of the historical-critical method is not enough. For that very reason the Council had insisted on the unity between Scripture and Tradition (nos. 9-10), requiring that Scripture be read and explained "in eodem Spiritu quo scripta est" - in the same Spirit in which it was written (no. 12). Insisting on the unity of the whole of Scripture, in the light of the Church's living tradition and the analogy of faith, the Constitution laid down norms for theological and ecclesial exegesis which should assist in deepening our faith. A fruitful result of this Synod would be for the Bishops to take this situation actively in hand, with a view to promoting the understanding and reception of what remains one of the fundamental documents of the Council - perhaps the most important. This responsibility lies first and foremost with the Bishops - masters and teachers of the faith - rather than with theologians and exegetes. In preparing manuals of theology for instructing candidates for the priesthood, one must be very conscious of the teaching of the Council and of the rich theological patrimony of the Church based on the Fathers and Doctors this should be done in a spirit of fidelity to Dei Verbum, especially as regards the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium.
Intervention of Card. Baum at the Second Extraordinary Synod in 1985