In his book,
based on his dissertation on the extension of papal infallibility, John P. Joy
has a useful table discussing various theologian notations. For those who
interact with Catholic apologists, this will be useful to know the
theological/authoritative weight behind certain doctrines:
De fide divina et catholica
credenda |
Dogma: A doctrine explicitly
proposed by the Church as divinely revealed and requiring the assent of
divine and Catholic faith. |
De fide definitive teneda |
Truth
of Catholic Doctrine: A doctrine explicitly proposed by the Church as theologically
certain and requiring the definitive assent of Catholic faith. |
Religioso voluntatis et
intellectus obsequio adhaerendam |
Authentic
Catholic Doctrine: A doctrine explicitly proposed by the Church as safe, probable,
etc. and requiring a religious submission of will and intellect. |
Sententia fidei proxima |
A doctrine
implicitly proposed by the Church as divinely revealed. |
Sententia ad fidem pertinens |
A doctrine
implicitly proposed by the Church as theologically certain. |
Sententia theologice certa |
A doctrine
in itself theologically certain on account of its connection with divine
revelation, but not proposed as such by the Church. |
Sententia communis |
A free
opinion regarding a matter of faith or morals about which theologians
generally agree. |
Sententia probabilis,
probabilior, bene fundata, etc. |
A free
opinion which is probable, more probable, well founded, etc., depending upon
the strength of the arguments adduced in its favour. |
(John P. Joy, Cathedra Veritatis:
On the Extension of Papal Infallibility [ed. Phillip Campbell; Howell,
Mich.: Cruachan Hill Press, 2012], ix)
Elsewhere,
we find another useful table (p. 20):
THEOLOGICAL |
Ecclesiastical Proposition |
|||
Explicitly
proposed as |
Implicitly
proposed as |
Not
proposed as |
||
Divine
Revelation |
Divinely
Revealed: |
Dogma |
Proximate to Faith |
N/A |
Theologically
Certain: |
Truth of Catholic Doctrine |
Pertaining to Faith |
Theologically Certain |
|
Theologically
Probable: |
Authentic Catholic Teaching |
Theologically Probable |
Theologically Probable |