Fides ecclesiastica

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Fides ecclesiastica is a classification of those Roman Catholic dogmas which are church teachings, definitively decided on by the Magisterium, but not (yet) as being divine revelations properly speaking.[1] They are considered infallible and irrevocable because, although they are not "truths of faith" (De Fide), they are nevertheless "closely related to them".[2]

In the Theological Grades of Certainty, it is one level below De fide and one level above Sententia fidei proxima which are generally accepted as divine revelation but not defined as such by the Magisterium.

## Contents

* 1 Sententia fidei proxima
* 2 Sententia certa
* 3 Sententia communis
* 4 Sententia probabilis
* 5 Opinio tolerata
* 6 See also
* 7 References

## Sententia fidei proxima

In Roman Catholic theology, Sententia fidei proxima refers to teachings, which are generally accepted as divine revelation but not defined as such by the Magisterium.[3] These are below the Fides ecclesiastica level, but above Sententia certa.

Views contradicting something that is sententia fidei proxima are referred to with the term sententia haeresi proxima. One example of sententia haeresi proxima is the proposition "angels are not pure spirits."[4]

## Sententia certa

In Roman Catholic theology, Sententia certa refers to teachings without final approval but clearly deduced from revelation.[3] These are below the Sententia fidei proxima level, but above Sententia communis.

## Sententia communis

In Roman Catholic theology, Sententia communis refers to popular beliefs which are widely held, and generally accepted by theologians, but not dogmatically asserted.[5] These are below the Sententia certa level (which are theologically inferred) but above the Sententia probabilis level (i.e. probable) in the hierarchy of dogmatic beliefs for Roman Catholics.

Examples of "sententia communis" beliefs which are cited by Ludwig Ott (1955) include:

• The saints in heaven can help the souls in purgatory by intercession,[6]

• Dead people cannot receive sacraments,[7]

However, more modern commentators, have noted that beliefs like these should potentially be classified at a higher level, in the light of the Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter Ad tuendam fidem (1998)[8]

## Sententia probabilis

In Catholic theology, sententia probabilis refers to beliefs which are considered probable but not theologically proven. They are viewed as well-founded and in agreement with the principles of faith, but not theologically certain.[9] These are more certain than Opinio tolerata and but less certain than sententia communis.[9] Those sententiae probabiles which are considered "in agreement with the consciousness of the Faith of the Church" are called sententia pia (pious opinion).[9]

## Opinio tolerata

In Catholic theology, opinio tolerata (tolerated opinion) refers to beliefs with a low degree of theological certainty, but which are tolerated by the magisterium of the Catholic Church.[10] These are ranked less certain than sententia probabilis and hold the least degree of certainty in the hierarchy of dogmatic teachings for Catholics.

## See also

* Roman Catholic dogma

## References

1. ↑ Dulles, Avery (1973). The Survival of Dogma. Colorado Springs: Image Books. ISBN 0385089570. https://books.google.com/books?id=rDkqAAAAYAAj.
2. ↑ John Paul II (March 24, 1993). "The Holy Spirit Assists the Roman Pontiff". General Audience. Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20110810175256/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/alpha/data/aud19930324en.html.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic dogma, 1964, Herder, ASIN: B002BZOUAI page 9
4. ↑ P. Minges, 1902, Compendium theologiae dogmaticae general page 237[1]
5. ↑ Fundamentals of Catholic dogma b Ludwig Ott, 1964, Herder, ASIN: B002BZOUAI page 10
6. ↑ Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. p. 322.
7. ↑ Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. p. 344.
8. ↑ Peters, Edward. "Sententia Communis, Just sententia communis". https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2017/10/26/sententia-communis-just-sententia-communis/. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Fundamentals of Catholic dogma b Ludwig Ott, 1964, Herder, ASIN: B002BZOUAI page 10
10. ↑ Fundamentals of Catholic dogma b Ludwig Ott, 1964, Herder, ASIN: B002BZOUAI page 10

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