Customer Reviews

By What Authority?: A Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Sense of the Faithful

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This is a much needed book on the subject. It clearly explains the interrelationship between Scripture, the Magisterium (i.e., the Church's teaching office), and Tradition. The author methodically and painlessly guides the reader through a somewhat complicated subject, leaving him/her with a distinct sense of increased understanding. Simplified, but never simplistic. A must read for every Catholic, and interested Protestant alike.

This book is a rather brief overview of the sources of Catholic teachings, and discussions of Church authority on various levels. For example, it discusses the differences between the infallible extraordinary papal magisterium (i.e. ex cathedra statements) and other forms of infallible authority, and fallible forms of authority. It also discusses the difficulties in determining what particular Catholic teaching falls under which category. For example, without taking a side, the author shows how the Vatican's teaching prohibiting the ordination of women is disputed in terms of its level of authority. Contrary to what some right-wing Catholics assert, Church teaching is not always black and white, as this book adeptly shows. The author also discusses the ways in which Vatican II changed how Catholics view Church authority, at least in theory. Overall, this is a good book for Catholics trying to navigate the minefield of Catholic teachings and the amount of authority each one may carry. It will help Catholics defend themselves from typical accusations of "cafeteria Catholicism" or "relativism" from the Catholic religious right. It's concise enough to read relatively quickly, and isn't too complicated for a layman to understand. I'd highly recommend it!

This is a fabulous book that presents challenging topics in easily digestible chapters. Each chapter concludes with a list of ideas realted to the chapters that are currently being debated, with perspetives from both sides of the debate, and a list of further reading sources.

Thank you Richard Gaillardetz for fleshing out principles and entities, which to me always seemed nebulous. It is easier to respect and feel that I belong to a community of the faithful, when I possess a better definition of the the government of the faithful and my obligations as a member of such a community.

Gaillardetz traces the history of authority as it has been articulated by the Chruch. He looks at the orgin of Scripture as a source, and the bodies that have always claimed to protect Scripture. He presents a concrete skeleton of the magisterium, and differentiates between the many different sources of teachings presented form the Church's offices, and which are more binding than others, and in what terms.

I thought the chapter on the role of an individual's conscience in accepting the churchs' ruling on issues which were not given as infallible teachings was most valuable. Gaillardetz outlines the importance of distinguishing the reasons for disagreement and how to discern whether they are motivated from issues with authority in general, weeknesses on the behalf of the individual, or a pure difference in moral interpretation. In concordance with the Catholic Catechism he advises that we are ultimately the ones who suffer the most of we commit immoral acts, and we must follow our conscience when it is speaking to us on morality. This is solid Catholic teaching, contrary to what a reviewer noted below, and something that more should be written about, to countreact the tendency for those who follow their conscience as being derisively called "cafeteria Catholics."

Rather than present theology as a static monolithic institution, Gaillardetz presents it as a dialogue between the entire living church; not just the exclusive domain of the hierarchical clergy. His perspective is refreshing, and uplifting. Hopefully many more works by him will follow.

With due respect to another reviewer, Gaillardetz's book is the last place an RCIA candidate or confirmandi should go for guidance on how to understand an appropriate response by the faithful to Church teaching. Gaillardetz believes that only a very rigid form of heresy that involves the explicit rejection of a dogma impairs one's status with the Catholic Church. He even goes so far as to say that the rejection of morally-binding social doctrines (he cites Church teaching on cohabitation) "does not in any way separate" a person from communion with the Church. This is pure conjecture. Doctrines exist in order to establish boundaries around what is morally licit behavior. In other words, to go beyond those boundaries is to sin, and sinning does indeed impair one's communion with Christ and His Church. At any rate, on too many questions Gaillardetz provides foggy responses instead of clear answers.

Richard Gaillardetz is one of the most perceptive and skilled theologians around, as well as being gifted with the ability to write in a simple and clear manner. I say this having read and used a number of his other publications in articles and teaching. This little book on the Magisterium is more evidence of that. He is faithful to the Magisterium while explaining it in a way that makes sense to anyone willing to read the material. This is a solid introductory presentation on the topic of the Magisterium that can be used for undergraduate theology students or interested general readers.

Dr. Gaillardetz is a brilliant man and posesses a knowledge of the Church far greater than most can claim. However, having skimmed this book and having had the pleasure of hearing the author lecture, I find myself feeling that he's on a mission to legitimize a more relativistic form of Catholic Christianity which can proclaim itself at once orthodox and faithful to Christ and the intent of the Fathers while at the same time providing cover and legitimacy for those who seek the Church's accomodation and approval of a tepid 21st century interpretation of the Faith. How to do this? Imply that all those bulls and encyclicals aren't binding. I fear in Gaillardetz's perfect model of Catholic Christianity, the role of the Pope would be reduced to that of the preachy, doting father that the teenage child has no problem ignoring when convinient. Perhaps I am wrong and if so, I deeply apologize to Dr. Gaillardetz. But that is certainly the impression I get.

One of the last chapters in this book was published in the Ligourian magazine. The chapter explains exactly what you have to do to be a Catholic in good standing. It categorizes each set of beliefs and teachings of the Church and proceeds to tell you that you only really have to follow the first set to consider yourself a Catholic in good standing.

The worst part of it is that the canon of Sacred Scripture is included in the second section (the one that you don't have to accept).

The Catholic has been accused of legalism and excessive use of rules, etc, and this book serves to reinforce that mind set. If you are looking for a book to justify you lack of living a good moral life according to the laws of God, then this is it.

Unfortunately, the book has some good points, but they really don't apply to you unless your conscience agrees with it.

Jesus said that he came to set us free from the law. But this book does the opposite, it actually abolishes the law and says that it really doesn't apply to you (at least 98% of it doesn't).