Ad tuendam fidem

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Ad tuendam fidem (English: To Protect the Faith) is an apostolic letter of St. John Paul II issued motu proprio on May 18, 1998.^[1] The apostolic letter made modified the Oriental and Latin codes of canon law specifying the form of profession of faith to be made by ministers of the Church before assuming office.^[1]

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith accompanied publication of the document with a doctrinal commentary, clarifying the three levels of authoritative teaching of the Church. The highest level is that of doctrines solemnly propounded as revealed by God. These call for divine faith. The second level is that of doctrines likewise infallibly taught not as revealed by God but as truths inseparably connected with revelation. The third category is that of teachings on matters more or less loosely connected with revelation that without being set forth with the solemnity of infallible doctrines are nevertheless authoritative. For this last category, what is required of Catholics is "religious submission of will and intellect". The other two call for firm and definitive assent, an assent that in the first category is one of divine faith.

The congregation's doctrinal commentary gave several examples of teachings of the first category, including the articles of the Creed, and teachings on the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist and on the grave immorality of direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being. The second category includes teachings on such matters as the illicitness of euthanasia, prostitution and fornication, and on what are called "dogmatic facts", such as the canonization of saints and the invalidity of Anglican ordinations.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} John Paul II, Ad tuendam fidem, accessed Jan-9-2013

External links

• , accompanied by the doctrinal commentary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the FaithAd tuendam fidemEnglish translation of

Pope Saint John Paul II Born Karol Józef Wojtyła, 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005 Pope (1978–2005) Archbishop of Kraków (1963–1978) Timeline Emilia Wojtyła (mother) Karol Wojtyła (father) Early life Papal conclave Assassination attempt Funeral dignitaries Beatification and Canonisation Acts as Pope Apologies Cardinals created People venerated People beatified Saints canonized Papal mediation in the Beagle conflict Pastoral visits Ireland Nicaragua United Kingdom World Day of the Sick World Youth Day Relations Eastern Orthodox Church Judaism Other topics Abbà Pater Criticism Family home (historic house) Health John Paul II Foundation Monuments Tiara   Bibliography Teachings Apostolic constitutions Sacrae Disciplinae Leges Pastor Bonus Ex Corde Ecclesiae Fidei depositum Universi Dominici gregis Apostolic exhortations Catechesi tradendae Familiaris consortio Reconciliatio et paenitentia Christifideles laici Redemptoris custos Pastores dabo vobis Ecclesia in America Ecclesia in Asia Ecclesiastical letters Dominicae Cenae Ordinatio Sacerdotalis Letter to Women Ad tuendam fidem Novo Millennio Ineunte Misericordia Dei Rosarium Virginis Mariae Encyclicals Redemptor hominis Dives in misericordia Laborem exercens Slavorum Apostoli Dominum et vivificantem Redemptoris Mater Sollicitudo rei socialis Redemptoris Missio Centesimus annus Veritatis splendor Evangelium vitae Ut Unum Sint Fides et Ratio Ecclesia de Eucharistia Books Love and Responsibility Crossing the Threshold of Hope Memory and Identity Other writings The Jeweler's Shop Theology of the Body "Roman Triptych" Testament Documents endorsed Catechism of the Catholic Church Quattuor Abhinc Annos We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah Dominus Iesus Related Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Political views Scriptural Way of the Cross   Eponymous places In popular culture High schools (United States) East Boca Raton, FL Tallahassee, FL Jasper, IN Slidell, LA Hyannis, MA Royersford, PA Hendersonville, TN Corpus Christi, TX Plano, TX Schertz, TX Dumfries, VA Lacey, WA Other high schools London, Canada Toronto, Canada Greymouth, New Zealand Rotorua, New Zealand Tarnów, Poland Brasília, Brazil Colleges Universities John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin John Paul II Institute John Paul II Minor Seminary John Paul the Great Catholic University Pontifical University of John Paul II Pope John Paul II College of Education Airports Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport João Paulo II Airport John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice Bridges El Puente del Papa John Paul II Bridge, Puławy Juan Pablo II Bridge Third Millennium John Paul II Bridge Other places Saint John Paul II National Shrine Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula John Paul II Catholic School John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization John Paul II Foundation for Research and Treatment Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński Museum of John Paul II Collection Pope John Paul II Park Reservation Films Pope John Paul II The Papal Chase Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II The Pope's Toilet Nine Days that Changed the World TV miniseries Pope John Paul II Karol: A Man Who Became Pope Karol: The Pope, The Man In Search of the Pope's Children Other media The Planet Is Alive...Let it Live! Red Rabbit The Pope's Children Credo: John Paul II Book Commons