Today the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a
five-page
“Notification
Regarding the Book ‘Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics’ by
Sister Margaret A. Farley R.S.M.,” in which it states, “In addressing
various moral issues, Sr. Farley either ignores the constant teaching of the
Magisterium or, where it is occasionally mentioned, treats it as one opinion
among others. … Among the many errors and ambiguities of this book are its
positions on masturbation, homosexual acts, homosexual unions, the
indissolubility of marriage and the problem of divorce and remarriage.”
The CDF notification, signed by Cardinal William Levada, states
that Sr. Farley’s book “is not in conformity with the teaching of the Church.
Consequently it cannot be used as a valid expression of Catholic teaching,
either in counselling and formation, or in ecumenical and inter-religious
dialogue.”
Sr. Margaret Farley is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the
Americas and Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian Ethics at Yale Divinity
School.
From
the Vatican Information Service:
The Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith wrote to Sr. Farley in 2010 enclosing a preliminary evaluation of her
book and indicating the doctrinal problems it contained, however her answer
failed to clarify those issues in a satisfactory manner. The Congregation
therefore proceeded to examine the volume following the procedure for
"examination in cases of urgency". In June 2011 a commission of
experts confirmed that the "book contained erroneous propositions, the
dissemination of which risks grave harm to the faithful". Sr. Farley was
sent a list of the erroneous propositions and invited to correct them, but her
response "did not adequately clarify the grave problems contained in her
book" and the Congregation decided to proceed with the publication of this
Notification…
"Sr. Farley writes:
'Masturbation… usually does not raise any moral questions at all'. ... This
statement does not conform to Catholic teaching: “Both the Magisterium of the
Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the
faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is
an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. ..."
…
"Sr. Farley writes: 'My own
view ... is that same-sex relationships and activities can be justified
according to the same sexual ethic as heterosexual relationships and
activities'. ... This opinion is not acceptable. The Catholic Church, in fact,
distinguishes between persons with homosexual tendencies and homosexual acts.
Concerning persons with homosexual tendencies, the Catechism of the Catholic
Church teaches that “they must be accepted with respect, compassion and
sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be
avoided” . Concerning homosexual acts, however, the Catechism affirms: “Basing
itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave
depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically
disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to
the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual
complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved"
Sr. Farley released a statement in response to the CDF
notification, which can be read in full here.
In it, she states:
I appreciate the efforts made by the
Congregation and its consultants, over several years, to evaluate positions
articulated in that book, and I do not dispute the judgment that some of the
positions contained within it are not in accord with current official Catholic
teaching. In the end, I can only clarify that the book was not intended to be
an expression of current official Catholic teaching, nor was it aimed
specifically against this teaching. It is of a different genre altogether.
…
Growing out of my work as a professor of Christian Ethics at Yale
University Divinity School, this book was designed to help people, especially
Christians but also others, to think through their questions about human
sexuality. It suggests the importance of moving from what frequently functions
as a taboo morality to a morality and sexual ethics based on the discernment of
what counts as wise, truthful, and recognizably just loves.
Sr. Patricia McDermott, R.S.M., president of the Sisters of
Mercy of the Americas and Sr. Farley’s religious superior, also released a
statement today in response to the CDF notification:
Sister Margaret Farley, RSM is a highly respected and valued
member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
I know that I speak for our membership in expressing our profound regret
that a Notification has been issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith regarding her book, Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics.
…
The process initiated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith has been lengthy, arduous and extremely difficult. I am deeply saddened
that Sister Margaret has had to engage in this process for more than three
years and that the Congregation has rendered this Notification concerning the
significant pastoral and ethical thinking that are represented in her book, “Just Love.”