DOCTRINAL COMMISSIONS PUBLISH COMMUNIQUE ON MEETING IN U.S.

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 1999 (VIS) - A press release was issued today by the participants in the February 9-12 meeting in California, U.S.A., between a delegation from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and chairmen and members of doctrinal commissions and episcopal conference presidents.

The communique points out that the "productive meeting centered on various doctrinal questions related to the proclamation of the truth of Jesus Christ in the very diverse cultural circumstances represented by the participating bishops." This is the sixth in a series of such regional meetings.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, congregation prefect, spoke on "Subjectivity, Christology and the Church." "In referring to the question of the unity of Catholic teaching in the multiplicity of cultures," says the release, "the cardinal stated that because the Word of God is 'prior to human speech', all cultures can receive the truth about the person of Christ and every human language 'can become the bearer of God's Word'."

Congregation secretary Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone "stressed that obedience to the truth of Jesus Christ represents 'not a suppression of the intellect' but a progressive harmonization of one's mind and heart with the mind and heart of God'."

The communique states: "Extended discussion centered on topics such as the authority of the Church's Magisterium, the importance of the Profession of Faith, the ecclesial role of the theologian, and dialogue between bishops and theologians. Other issues receiving attention at the meeting were the implications of feminism for Catholic thought and the pastoral care of homosexual persons."

"In addressing the implications of feminism for Catholic thought, Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic (archbishop of Toronto) asserted that 'women could not find an ally more clearly determined than the Church to recognize and defend their dignity'. The universal call to holiness is addressed to women and men equally, and has primary 'over every structure and every distinction in the Church of God'."

"Archbishop Eric D'Arcy (of Hobart, Australia), in his presentation on homosexuality, stressed the holistic way in which the Church approaches the biblical teaching on human sexuality and on homosexuality. ... (He) reiterated the Catholic rejection of the moral relativism that denies the objectivity of moral truth and moral reality. On the basis of Scripture and sound moral reasoning, the Church teaches that homosexual acts cannot contribute to the authentic good of the human person, and consistently condemns any violence against homosexual persons."

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