A relatively new aberration is gaining strength. It has resulted in a confusion between popular opinion and “sense of the faithful” (sensum fidelium) on matters of faith. Extensive reporting on the discussions that took place last autumn during the first session of the Synod on the Family seemed to foster the notion that something could now be regarded as true and followed in the Chrch because it was accepted by a majority of the Synod on the Family then in session. And apart from any synod, it could be held as approved if now a majority of members in the Church followed such a belief.
In early December Pope Francis asked the members of the International Theological Commission meeting in Rome to reflect on the `sense of the faithful` which is at the heart of this confusion. In his words, “By the gift of the Holy Spirit, the members of the Church possess the `sense of the faith`. It is a question of a kind of `spiritual instinct`, which permits us to `think with the Church` and discern what is consistent with the apostolic faith and the spirit of the Gospel.“
The Pope then elaborated on that point. “This sense must not be confused with the sociological reality of majority opinion. That is something else. It is therefore important, and it is your task, to elaborate the criteria that permit discernment of authentic expressions of the `sense of the faithful.“`
There is a need to “elaborate the criteria that permit discernment” because of writers in the popular media who give the impression that the only criteria is widespread acceptance by people similar to a majority vote in a democratic society. The Second Vatican Council made it very clear that what has to be kept in mind is “The whole body of the faithful…cannot err in matters of belief. This characteristic is shown in the supernatural appreciation of faith (sensus fidei) on the part of the whole people , when, ‘from the bishops to the last of the faithful’, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals.” (LG 12) In other words, whether something fits the criteria does not depend on a statement in the popular media but on an official statement by the teaching authority of the Church, which is known as the Magisterium.
The new Catechism of the Catholic Church explains what is meant by the Magisterium. “The task of interpreting the word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him. (#100)
No doubt there will be further writings in the popular media about what the Church teaches or should teach when the second session of the Synod on the Family convenes next fall as well as similar occasions related to Church teachings. We trust that the above criteria for judging the “`Sense of the Faithful` will be kept in mind and for peace of mind. We cannot expect that those who want the Church to be submissive to popular or democratic opinions will abandon their effort to make a Church that reflects their vision of what it should be.