sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (02/13/85)
I don't have any references at hand which refer to the valid
administration of sacraments. My comments on intercommunion
come from McBride's "Catholicism" which is quoting an unnamed
directive from the Vatican's Secretariat for Promoting Christian
Unity in 1972. This was addressing only the administration
of the Eucharist at a Catholic Mass to non-Catholic Christians.
Incidentally, this book, "Catholicism", is extremely far-reaching
in trying to encompass almost all aspects of Catholic thought
and belief. Its paperback "study edition" is 1300 pages, the
original edition being two THICK hardbound volumes looking rather
like the Compact OED. Interestingly, it was not granted an Imprimatur
by the Bishop of South Bend, Indiana, though the Church's appointed
censor did grant it a Nihil Obstat. His reasons were a little
weird, but he essentially argued that because this book is for
"mature" audiences, it doesn't require approval. What's more,
because the book is essentially synthetic and speculative, such
approval might be interpreted as endorsing the book as a definitive
statement on Catholicism. My feeling is that the book is extremely
fair at representing the current modes of thought in the Church
today. Doubtless the idea that this might be construed as
"definitive" sent shudders through the Bishop of South Bend!
This is a very good book for Catholics and non-Catholics alike
who want to get a better feel for Catholic theology after Vatican II.
The study edition is well-written and quite easy to read, and is
divided into major chapters and subsections which can be read
at a single sitting.
Glossary:
Imprimatur - formal ecclesiastical approval (voluntarily
applied for these days.)
Nihil Obstat - literally, "nothing hinders", a statement
that a work does not advocate teachings
contrary to Catholic faith and morals
censor - Um, we're not back in the middle ages.
This is a formal title given to the
person evaluating a work for its consonance
with Catholic orthodox teachings.
--
/Steve Dyer
{decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA