Professor Rhonheimer Writes. and the Holy Office Agrees, by Sandro Magister, The Chiesa, December 22, 2010

Professor Rhonheimer Writes. and the Holy Office Agrees

By Sandro Magister
The Chiesa
December 22, 2010

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1346021?eng=y

ROME, December 22, 2010 – The discussion on sexual morality ignited by Benedict XVI in a passage of his book-length interview "Light of the World" keeps moving higher and higher.

Yesterday afternoon, Professor Martin Rhonheimer, a priest of Opus Dei and a professor, in Rome, at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, gave www.chiesa exclusive rights to an extensive reflection he wrote in elaboration and development on the sketchy comments offered by the pope.

And at the same time, "L'Osservatore Romano" went to press with a note from the congregation for the doctrine of the faith on "the trivialization of sexuality, regarding certain interpretations of 'Light of the World'." A note published simultaneously in six languages on the Vatican website.

The note agrees completely with Rhonheimer's positions. But Rhonheimer himself says much more, especially where he reflects on the encyclical "Humanae Vitae": another theme to which Benedict XVI has said that "more and better attention must be paid."

Those who - like Luke Gormally of the Pontifical Academy for Life, in an open letter also entrusted to www.chiesa a few days ago - were urging the congregation to make a statement that would definitively settle the discussion and quell the "confusion" produced by the pope's words, cannot help but be disappointed.

The congregation has spoken, but in the opposite direction. It is also encouraging discussion, and "more and better" exploration.

The following, in the original English text, is the reflection by Rhonheimer, in the form of an open letter in reply to Gormally.

And to follow, in the language versions produced by the Holy See, the text of the December 21 note from the congregation for the doctrine of the faith.