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OnthePastoralCareofHomosexualPersons
LettertotheBishopsoftheCatholicChurch
CongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith
October1,1986
1.Theissueofhomosexualityandthemoralevaluationofhomosexualactshave
increasinglybecomeamatterofpublicdebate,eveninCatholiccircles.Sincethis
debateoftenadvancesargumentsandmakesassertionsinconsistentwiththe
teachingoftheCatholicChurch,itisquiterightlyacauseforconcerntoallengaged
inthepastoralministry,andthisCongregationhasjudgedittobeofsufficiently
graveandwidespreadimportancetoaddresstotheBishopsoftheCatholicChurch
thisLetteronthePastoralCareofHomosexualPersons.
2.Naturally,anexhaustivetreatmentofthiscomplexissuecannotbeattempted
here,butwewillfocusourreflectionwithinthedistinctivecontextoftheCatholic
moralperspective.Itisaperspectivewhichfindssupportinthemoresecure
findingsofthenaturalsciences,whichhavetheirownlegitimateandproper
methodologyandfieldofinquiry.
However,theCatholicmoralviewpointisfoundedonhumanreasonilluminedby
faithandisconsciouslymotivatedbythedesiretodothewillofGodourFather.
TheChurchisthusinapositiontolearnfromscientificdiscoverybutalsoto
transcendthehorizonsofscienceandtobeconfidentthathermoreglobalvision
doesgreaterjusticetotherichrealityofthehumanpersoninhisspiritualand
physicaldimensions,createdbyGodandheir,bygrace,toeternallife.
Itiswithinthiscontext,then,thatitcanbeclearlyseenthatthephenomenonof
homosexuality,complexasitis,andwithitsmanyconsequencesforsocietyand
ecclesiallife,isaproperfocusfortheChurch'spastoralcare.Itthusrequiresofher
ministersattentivestudy,activeconcernandhonest,theologicallywellbalanced
counsel.
3.ExplicittreatmentoftheproblemwasgiveninthisCongregation's"Declaration
onCertainQuestionsConcerningSexualEthics"ofDecember29,1975.That
documentstressedthedutyoftryingtounderstandthehomosexualconditionand
notedthatculpabilityforhomosexualactsshouldonlybejudgedwithprudence.At
thesametimetheCongregationtooknoteofthedistinctioncommonlydrawn
betweenthehomosexualconditionortendencyandindividualhomosexualactions.
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Theseweredescribedasdeprivedoftheiressentialandindispensablefinality,as
being"intrinsicallydisordered",andableinnocasetobeapprovedof(cf.n.8,sect.
4).
InthediscussionwhichfollowedthepublicationoftheDeclaration,however,an
overlybenigninterpretationwasgiventothehomosexualconditionitself,some
goingsofarastocallitneutral,orevengood.Althoughtheparticularinclinationof
thehomosexualpersonisnotasin,itisamoreorlessstrongtendencyordered
towardanintrinsicmoralevilandthustheinclinationitselfmustbeseenasan
objectivedisorder.
Thereforespecialconcernandpastoralattentionshouldbedirectedtowardthose
whohavethiscondition,lesttheybeledtobelievethatthelivingoutofthis
orientationinhomosexualactivityisamorallyacceptableoption.Itisnot.
4.Anessentialdimensionofauthenticpastoralcareistheidentificationofcausesof
confusionregardingtheChurch'steaching.OneisanewexegesisofSacred
ScripturewhichclaimsvariouslythatScripturehasnothingtosayonthesubjectof
homosexuality,orthatitsomehowtacitlyapprovesofit,orthatallofitsmoral
injunctionsaresocultureboundthattheyarenolongerapplicabletocontemporary
life.Theseviewsaregravelyerroneousandcallforparticularattentionhere.
5.ItisquitetruethattheBiblicalliteratureowestothedifferentepochsinwhichit
waswrittenagooddealofitsvariedpatternsofthoughtandexpression(Dei
Verbum12).TheChurchtodayaddressestheGospeltoaworldwhichdiffersin
manywaysfromancientdays.ButtheworldinwhichtheNewTestamentwas
writtenwasalreadyquitediversefromthesituationinwhichtheSacredScriptures
oftheHebrewPeoplehadbeenwrittenorcompiled,forexample.
Whatshouldbenoticedisthat,inthepresenceofsuchremarkablediversity,thereis
neverthelessaclearconsistencywithintheScripturesthemselvesonthemoralissue
ofhomosexualbehaviour.TheChurch'sdoctrineregardingthisissueisthusbased,
notonisolatedphrasesforfaciletheologicalargument,butonthesolidfoundation
ofaconstantBiblicaltestimony.Thecommunityoffaithtoday,inunbroken
continuitywiththeJewishandChristiancommunitieswithinwhichtheancient
Scriptureswerewritten,continuestobenourishedbythosesameScripturesandby
theSpiritofTruthwhoseWordtheyare.Itislikewiseessentialtorecognizethatthe
Scripturesarenotproperlyunderstoodwhentheyareinterpretedinawaywhich
contradictstheChurch'slivingTradition.Tobecorrect,theinterpretationof
ScripturemustbeinsubstantialaccordwiththatTradition.
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TheVaticanCouncilIIinDeiVerbum10,putitthisway:"Itisclear,therefore,that
inthesupremelywisearrangementofGod,sacredTradition,sacredScripture,and
theMagisteriumoftheChurcharesoconnectedandassociatedthatoneofthem
cannotstandwithouttheothers.Workingtogether,eachinitsownwayunderthe
actionoftheoneHolySpirit,theyallcontributeeffectivelytothesalvationof
souls".InthatspiritwewishtooutlinebrieflytheBiblicalteachinghere.
6.Providingabasicplanforunderstandingthisentirediscussionofhomosexuality
isthetheologyofcreationwefindinGenesis.God,inhisinfinitewisdomandlove,
bringsintoexistenceallofrealityasareflectionofhisgoodness.Hefashions
mankind,maleandfemale,inhisownimageandlikeness.Humanbeings,therefore,
arenothinglessthantheworkofGodhimselfandinthecomplementarityofthe
sexes,theyarecalledtoreflecttheinnerunityoftheCreator.Theydothisina
strikingwayintheircooperationwithhiminthetransmissionoflifebyamutual
donationoftheselftotheother.
InGenesis3,wefindthatthistruthaboutpersonsbeinganimageofGodhasbeen
obscuredbyoriginalsin.Thereinevitablyfollowsalossofawarenessofthe
covenantalcharacteroftheunionthesepersonshadwithGodandwitheachother.
Thehumanbodyretainsits"spousalsignificance"butthisisnowcloudedbysin.
Thus,inGenesis19:111,thedeteriorationduetosincontinuesinthestoryofthe
menofSodom.Therecanbenodoubtofthemoraljudgementmadethereagainst
homosexualrelations.InLeviticus18:22and20:13,inthecourseofdescribingthe
conditionsnecessaryforbelongingtotheChosenPeople,theauthorexcludesfrom
thePeopleofGodthosewhobehaveinahomosexualfashion.
Againstthebackgroundofthisexpositionoftheocraticlaw,aneschatological
perspectiveisdevelopedbySt.Paulwhen,inICor6:9,heproposesthesame
doctrineandliststhosewhobehaveinahomosexualfashionamongthosewhoshall
notentertheKingdomofGod.
InRomans1:1832,stillbuildingonthemoraltraditionsofhisforebears,butinthe
newcontextoftheconfrontationbetweenChristianityandthepagansocietyofhis
day,Pauluseshomosexualbehaviourasanexampleoftheblindnesswhichhas
overcomehumankind.InsteadoftheoriginalharmonybetweenCreatorand
creatures,theacutedistortionofidolatryhasledtoallkindsofmoralexcess.Paulis
atalosstofindaclearerexampleofthisdisharmonythanhomosexualrelations.
Finally,ITimothy1,infullcontinuitywiththeBiblicalposition,singlesoutthose
whospreadwrongdoctrineandinverse10explicitlynamesassinnersthosewho
engageinhomosexualacts.
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7.TheChurch,obedienttotheLordwhofoundedherandgavetoherthe
sacramentallife,celebratesthedivineplanofthelovingandlivegivingunionof
menandwomeninthesacramentofmarriage.Itisonlyinthemaritalrelationship
thattheuseofthesexualfacultycanbemorallygood.Apersonengagingin
homosexualbehaviourthereforeactsimmorally.
Tochosesomeoneofthesamesexforone'ssexualactivityistoannultherich
symbolismandmeaning,nottomentionthegoals,oftheCreator'ssexualdesign.
Homosexualactivityisnotacomplementaryunion,abletotransmitlifeandsoit
thwartsthecalltoalifeofthatformofselfgivingwhichtheGospelsaysisthe
essenceofChristianliving.Thisdoesnotmeanthathomosexualpersonsarenot
oftengenerousandgivingofthemselvesbutwhentheyengageinhomosexual
activitytheyconfirmwithinthemselvesadisorderedsexualinclinationwhichis
essentiallyselfindulgent.
Asineverymoraldisorder,homosexualactivitypreventsone'sownfulfillmentand
happinessbyactingcontrarytothecreativewisdomofGod.TheChurch,in
rejectingerroneousopinionsregardinghomosexuality,doesnotlimitbutrather
defendspersonalfreedomanddignityrealisticallyandauthenticallyunderstood.
8.Thus,theChurch'steachingtodayisinorganiccontinuitywiththeScriptural
perspectiveandwithherownconstantTradition.Thoughtoday'sworldisinmany
waysquitenew,theChristiancommunitysensestheprofoundandlastingbonds
whichjoinustothosegenerationswhohavegonebeforeus,"markedwiththesign
offaith".
Nevertheless,increasingnumbersofpeopletoday,evenwithintheChurch,are
bringingenormouspressuretobearontheChurchtoacceptthehomosexual
conditionasthoughitwerenotdisorderedandtocondonehomosexualactivity.
ThosewithintheChurchwhoargueinthisfashionoftenhaveclosetieswiththose
withsimilarviewsoutsideit.Theselattergroupsareguidedbyavisionopposedto
thetruthaboutthehumanperson,whichisfullydisclosedinthemysteryofChrist.
Theyreflect,evenifnotentirelyconsciously,amaterialisticideologywhichdenies
thetranscendentnatureofthehumanpersonaswellasthesupernaturalvocationof
everyindividual.
TheChurch'sministersmustensurethathomosexualpersonsintheircarewillnot
bemisledbythispointofview,soprofoundlyopposedtotheteachingofthe
Church.Buttheriskisgreatandtherearemanywhoseektocreateconfusion
regardingtheChurch'sposition,andthentousethatconfusiontotheirown
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advantage.
9.ThemovementwithintheChurch,whichtakestheformofpressuregroupsof
variousnamesandsizes,attemptstogivetheimpressionthatitrepresentsall
homosexualpersonswhoareCatholics.Asamatteroffact,itsmembershipisby
andlargerestrictedtothosewhoeitherignoretheteachingoftheChurchorseek
somehowtoundermineit.ItbringstogetherundertheaegisofCatholicism
homosexualpersonswhohavenointentionofabandoningtheirhomosexual
behaviour.Onetacticusedistoprotestthatanyandallcriticismoforreservations
abouthomosexualpeople,theiractivityandlifestyle,aresimplydiverseformsof
unjustdiscrimination.
ThereisaneffortinsomecountriestomanipulatetheChurchbygainingtheoften
wellintentionedsupportofherpastorswithaviewtochangingcivilstatutesand
laws.Thisisdoneinordertoconformtothesepressuregroups'conceptthat
homosexualityisatleastacompletelyharmless,ifnotanentirelygood,thing.Even
whenthepracticeofhomosexualitymayseriouslythreatenthelivesandwellbeing
ofalargenumberofpeople,itsadvocatesremainundeterredandrefusetoconsider
themagnitudeoftherisksinvolved.
TheChurchcanneverbesocallous.Itistruethatherclearpositioncannotbe
revisedbypressurefromcivillegislationorthetrendofthemoment.Butsheis
reallyconcernedaboutthemanywhoarenotrepresentedbytheprohomosexual
movementandaboutthosewhomayhavebeentemptedtobelieveitsdeceitful
propaganda.Sheisalsoawarethattheviewthathomosexualactivityisequivalent
to,orasacceptableas,thesexualexpressionofconjugallovehasadirectimpacton
society'sunderstandingofthenatureandrightsofthefamilyandputsthemin
jeopardy.
10.Itisdeplorablethathomosexualpersonshavebeenandaretheobjectofviolent
maliceinspeechorinaction.Suchtreatmentdeservescondemnationfromthe
Church'spastorswhereveritoccurs.Itrevealsakindofdisregardforotherswhich
endangersthemostfundamentalprinciplesofahealthysociety.Theintrinsic
dignityofeachpersonmustalwaysberespectedinword,inactionandinlaw.
Buttheproperreactiontocrimescommittedagainsthomosexualpersonsshouldnot
betoclaimthatthehomosexualconditionisnotdisordered.Whensuchaclaimis
madeandwhenhomosexualactivityisconsequentlycondoned,orwhencivil
legislationisintroducedtoprotectbehaviortowhichnoonehasanyconceivable
right,neithertheChurchnorsocietyatlargeshouldbesurprisedwhenother
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distortednotionsandpracticesgainground,andirrationalandviolentreactions
increase.
11.Ithasbeenarguedthatthehomosexualorientationincertaincasesisnotthe
resultofdeliberatechoiceandsothehomosexualpersonwouldthenhaveno
choicebuttobehaveinahomosexualfashion.Lackingfreedom,suchaperson,
evenifengagedinhomosexualactivity,wouldnotbeculpable.
Here,theChurch'swisemoraltraditionisnecessarysinceitwarnsagainst
generalizationsinjudgingindividualcases.Infact,circumstancesmayexist,ormay
haveexistedinthepast,whichwouldreduceorremovetheculpabilityofthe
individualinagiveninstanceorothercircumstancesmayincreaseit.Whatisatall
coststobeavoidedistheunfoundedanddemeaningassumptionthatthesexual
behaviourofhomosexualpersonsisalwaysandtotallycompulsiveandtherefore
inculpable.Whatisessentialisthatthefundamentallibertywhichcharacterizesthe
humanpersonandgiveshimhisdignityberecognizedasbelongingtothe
homosexualpersonaswell.Asineveryconversionfromevil,theabandonmentof
homosexualactivitywillrequireaprofoundcollaborationoftheindividualwith
God'sliberatinggrace.
12.What,then,arehomosexualpersonstodowhoseektofollowtheLord?
Fundamentally,theyarecalledtoenactthewillofGodintheirlifebyjoining
whateversufferingsanddifficultiestheyexperienceinvirtueoftheirconditionto
thesacrificeoftheLord'sCross.ThatCross,forthebeliever,isafruitfulsacrifice
sincefromthatdeathcomelifeandredemption.Whileanycalltocarrythecrossor
tounderstandaChristian'ssufferinginthiswaywillpredictablybemetwithbitter
ridiculebysome,itshouldberememberedthatthisisthewaytoeternallifeforall
whofollowChrist.
Itis,ineffect,noneotherthantheteachingofPaultheApostletotheGalatians
whenhesaysthattheSpiritproducesinthelivesofthefaithful"love,joy,peace,
patience,kindness,goodness,trustfulness,gentlenessandselfcontrol"(5:22)and
further(5:24),"YoucannotbelongtoChristunlessyoucrucifyallselfindulgent
passionsanddesires."
Itiseasilymisunderstood,however,ifitismerelyseenasapointlesseffortatself
denial.TheCrossisadenialofself,butinservicetothewillofGodhimselfwho
makeslifecomefromdeathandempowersthosewhotrustinhimtopractisevirtue
inplaceofvice.
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TocelebratethePaschalMystery,itisnecessarytoletthatMysterybecome
imprintedinthefabricofdailylife.Torefusetosacrificeone'sownwillin
obediencetothewilloftheLordiseffectivelytopreventsalvation.JustastheCross
wascentraltotheexpressionofGod'sredemptiveloveforusinJesus,sothe
conformityoftheselfdenialofhomosexualmenandwomenwiththesacrificeof
theLordwillconstituteforthemasourceofselfgivingwhichwillsavethemfrom
awayoflifewhichconstantlythreatenstodestroythem.
Christianswhoarehomosexualarecalled,asallofusare,toachastelife.Asthey
dedicatetheirlivestounderstandingthenatureofGod'spersonalcalltothem,they
willbeabletocelebratetheSacramentofPenancemorefaithfullyandreceivethe
Lord'sgracesofreelyofferedthereinordertoconverttheirlivesmorefullytohis
Way.
13.Werecognize,ofcourse,thatingreatmeasuretheclearandsuccessful
communicationoftheChurch'steachingtoallthefaithful,andtosocietyatlarge,
dependsonthecorrectinstructionandfidelityofherpastoralministers.The
Bishopshavetheparticularlygraveresponsibilitytoseetoitthattheirassistantsin
theministry,aboveallthepriests,arerightlyinformedandpersonallydisposedto
bringtheteachingoftheChurchinitsintegritytoeveryone.
Thecharacteristicconcernandgoodwillexhibitedbymanyclergyandreligiousin
theirpastoralcareforhomosexualpersonsisadmirable,and,wehope,willnot
diminish.Suchdevotedministersshouldhavetheconfidencethattheyarefaithfully
followingthewilloftheLordbyencouragingthehomosexualpersontoleada
chastelifeandbyaffirmingthatperson'sGodgivendignityandworth.
14.Withthisinmind,thisCongregationwishestoasktheBishopstobeespecially
cautiousofanyprogrammeswhichmayseektopressuretheChurchtochangeher
teaching,evenwhileclaimingnottodoso.Acarefulexaminationoftheirpublic
statementsandtheactivitiestheypromoterevealsastudiedambiguitybywhich
theyattempttomisleadthepastorsandthefaithful.Forexample,theymaypresent
theteachingoftheMagisterium,butonlyasifitwereanoptionalsourceforthe
formationofone'sconscience.Itsspecificauthorityisnotrecognized.Someof
thesegroupswillusetheword"Catholic"todescribeeithertheorganizationorits
intendedmembers,yettheydonotdefendandpromotetheteachingofthe
Magisteriumindeed,theyevenopenlyattackit.Whiletheirmembersmayclaima
desiretoconformtheirlivestotheteachingofJesus,infacttheyabandonthe
teachingofhisChurch.Thiscontradictoryactionshouldnothavethesupportofthe
Bishopsinanyway.
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15.WeencouragetheBishops,then,toprovidepastoralcareinfullaccordwiththe
teachingoftheChurchforhomosexualpersonsoftheirdioceses.Noauthentic
pastoralprogrammewillincludeorganizationsinwhichhomosexualpersons
associatewitheachotherwithoutclearlystatingthathomosexualactivityis
immoral.Atrulypastoralapproachwillappreciatetheneedforhomosexualpersons
toavoidthenearoccasionsofsin.
Wewouldheartilyencourageprogrammeswherethesedangersareavoided.Butwe
wishtomakeitclearthatdeparturefromtheChurch'steaching,orsilenceaboutit,
inanefforttoprovidepastoralcareisneithercaringnorpastoral.Onlywhatistrue
canultimatelybepastoral.TheneglectoftheChurch'spositionprevents
homosexualmenandwomenfromreceivingthecaretheyneedanddeserve.
Anauthenticpastoralprogrammewillassisthomosexualpersonsatalllevelsofthe
spirituallife:throughthesacraments,andinparticularthroughthefrequentand
sincereuseofthesacramentofReconciliation,throughprayer,witness,counseland
individualcare.Insuchaway,theentireChristiancommunitycancometo
recognizeitsowncalltoassistitsbrothersandsisters,withoutdeludingthemor
isolatingthem.
16.Fromthismultifacetedapproachtherearenumerousadvantagestobegained,
nottheleastofwhichistherealizationthatahomosexualperson,aseveryhuman
being,deeplyneedstobenourishedatmanydifferentlevelssimultaneously.
Thehumanperson,madeintheimageandlikenessofGod,canhardlybe
adequatelydescribedbyareductionistreferencetohisorhersexualorientation.
Everyonelivingonthefaceoftheearthhaspersonalproblemsanddifficulties,but
challengestogrowth,strengths,talentsandgiftsaswell.Today,theChurch
providesabadlyneededcontextforthecareofthehumanpersonwhensherefuses
toconsiderthepersonasa"heterosexual"ora"homosexual"andinsiststhatevery
personhasafundamentalIdentity:thecreatureofGod,andbygrace,hischildand
heirtoeternallife.
17.InbringingthisentiremattertotheBishops'attention,thisCongregationwishes
tosupporttheireffortstoassurethattheteachingoftheLordandhisChurchonthis
importantquestionbecommunicatedfullytoallthefaithful.
Inlightofthepointsmadeabove,theyshoulddecidefortheirowndiocesesthe
extenttowhichaninterventionontheirpartisindicated.Inaddition,shouldthey
considerithelpful,furthercoordinatedactionattheleveloftheirNationalBishops'
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Conferencemaybeenvisioned.
Inaparticularway,wewouldasktheBishopstosupport,withthemeansattheir
disposal,thedevelopmentofappropriateformsofpastoralcareforhomosexual
persons.Thesewouldincludetheassistanceofthepsychological,sociologicaland
medicalsciences,infullaccordwiththeteachingoftheChurch.
TheyareencouragedtocallontheassistanceofallCatholictheologianswho,by
teachingwhattheChurchteaches,andbydeepeningtheirreflectionsonthetrue
meaningofhumansexualityandChristianmarriagewiththevirtuesitengenders,
willmakeanimportantcontributioninthisparticularareaofpastoralcare.
TheBishopsareaskedtoexercisespecialcareintheselectionofpastoralministers
sothatbytheirownhighdegreeofspiritualandpersonalmaturityandbytheir
fidelitytotheMagisterium,theymaybeofrealservicetohomosexualpersons,
promotingtheirhealthandwellbeinginthefullestsense.Suchministerswillreject
theologicalopinionswhichdissentfromtheteachingoftheChurchandwhich,
therefore,cannotbeusedasguidelinesforpastoralcare.
WeencouragetheBishopstopromoteappropriatecatecheticalprogrammesbased
onthetruthabouthumansexualityinitsrelationshiptothefamilyastaughtbythe
Church.Suchprogrammesshouldprovideagoodcontextwithinwhichtodealwith
thequestionofhomosexuality.
Thiscatechesiswouldalsoassistthosefamiliesofhomosexualpersonstodealwith
thisproblemwhichaffectsthemsodeeply.
Allsupportshouldbewithdrawnfromanyorganizationswhichseektoundermine
theteachingoftheChurch,whichareambiguousaboutit,orwhichneglectit
entirely.Suchsupport,oreventhesemblanceofsuchsupport,canbegravely
misinterpreted.Specialattentionshouldbegiventothepracticeofscheduling
religiousservicesandtotheuseofChurchbuildingsbythesegroups,includingthe
facilitiesofCatholicschoolsandcolleges.Tosome,suchpermissiontouseChurch
propertymayseemonlyjustandcharitablebutinrealityitiscontradictorytothe
purposeforwhichtheseinstitutionswerefounded,itismisleadingandoften
scandalous.
Inassessingproposedlegislation,theBishopsshouldkeepastheiruppermost
concerntheresponsibilitytodefendandpromotefamilylife.
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18.TheLordJesuspromised,"Youshallknowthetruthandthetruthshallsetyou
free"(Jn.8:32).Scripturebidsusspeakthetruthinlove(cf.Eph.4:15).TheGod
whoisatoncetruthandlovecallstheChurchtoministertoeveryman,womanand
childwiththepastoralsolicitudeofourcompassionateLord.Itisinthisspiritthat
wehaveaddressedthisLettertotheBishopsoftheChurch,withthehopethatit
willbeofsomehelpastheycareforthosewhosesufferingcanonlybeintensified
byerrorandlightenedbytruth.
DuringanaudiencegrantedtotheundersignedPrefect,HisHoliness,PopeJohn
PaulII,approvedthisLetter,adoptedinanordinarysessionoftheCongregation
fortheDoctrineoftheFaith,andorderedittobepublished.
GivenatRome,1October1986.
JOSEPHCARDINALRATZINGER
Prefect
ALBERTOBOVONE
TitularArchbishopofCaesareainNumidia
Secretary

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