Papal infallibilty and other "problematic" doctrines

There are several posts over at The Anglo-Catholic about papal infallibility and some of the other problematic doctrines for those of us contemplating Anglicanorum Coetibus. Most interesting discussion in several posts.

Christian Campbell writes (his bolds):

While many individual Anglicans — even within the Traditional Anglican Communion — may have “hang-ups” over papal infallibility or the acceptance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a doctrinal standard, a couple of points ought to be firmly established with respect to the doctrine of the TAC bishops themselves.

-snip-

The coming days will make these questions crystal clear. But for those holding out for wiggle room, I’ll go ahead and burst their bubble. After all, though some have endeavored to ignore the facts, the reality is no secret.

Anglicanorum Coetibus informs us:

§5 The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the authoritative expression of the Catholic faith professed by members of the Ordinariate.

There is a very simple reason for this requirement in the Apostolic Constitution. The bishops of the TAC themselves proposed the Catechism as the doctrinal standard for a future corporate reunion — and their confession of the doctrines contained therein was unconditional.

Far from the admission of any wiggle room, the full text of the “Portsmouth Letter” makes absolutely clear that our bishops assent, not to the teaching of the Catechism generally, but to specific doctrines — indeed to those doctrines upon which all of the others hang. The Magisterium of the Catholic Church is accepted without reservation. The ministry of the Successor of St. Peter is confessed in terms that would be familiar to a father of the First Vatican Council!

Not only did the TAC bishops assembled — unanimously — approve the text of the letter to the Holy See, the entire college signed their confession in a solemn act. -snip-

This solemn oath of the TAC bishops is irrevocable. And from October 2007, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has been, at least, the de facto official doctrine of the Traditional Anglican Communion.

As in Fr. Pinnock’s Church of England congregation, there are not a few of our people in the TAC who look forward to union with Rome and ask, “How much of this will I have to believe?” Let us be clear. Whatever happens in the coming months, the decisions to be made are essentially ecclesiastical politics; the doctrinal questions have long been decided. Our bishops have not confessed the Catechism of the Catholic Church with reservations; the Catechism, in its entirety, is commended to the faithful of the TAC by our whole episcopate. This is faith that we “aspire to hold” and that our bishops are pledged to teach.

For those communicants of the TAC who are yet reluctant to accept unfamiliar or difficult doctrines on the authority of the Roman Pontiff, what of your own bishops? You believe them to be the successors to the Apostles and you have a duty to heed the call of your shepherds. These same bishops believe themselves to be led by the Holy Ghost, now to set aside the contentions of the past and to sacrifice for the unity of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. You may not be persuaded by the Bishop of Rome, but will you reject even your own shepherds? Heed the voice of the Spirit speaking through them “ut omnes unum sint.”

This is why I trust our bishops and I'm happy to be under their authority.

To any TAC lay person who is struggling with papal infallibility, Marian dogmas, Humanae Vitae or other teachings around human sexuality---I say this: be willing to set aside your own judgment and your own rights to be the little pope of your life. Set over these teachings you may be struggling with and assume that you probably have not yet heard a convincing explanation yet. Wait, be open and the explanation you need will come. Click! This is what has happened with me over a period of years as I gradually came to see various teachings in a new light. I used to hold the view that "On this rock I will build my church" concerned only the faith that Peter professed. Then one day, near the coffee pot in the basement of the Cathedral someone--was it Bishop Carl? Bishop Robert? I can't remember---I can't even remember who said it or what was said, but in a casual conversation, someone explained to me the Catholic take on Peter himself as the rock, and the penny dropped. Click.

I am reminded of a meeting over coffee I had with a friend who is a staunch evangelical of Calvinist persuasion whose children are becoming disturbingly Catholic. Her children have been hitting her over the head with rational explanations. Ah the young and the black and white ways they see things and try to convince others in a way that is sometimes, well, off-putting. I told her she should be thankful that her children are rebelling in this manner. They could have chosen drugs or something.

I explained the slow and gradual process that has led me thus far, the occasional flashes of intuition, the timely explanations, the way that nothing has been forced. Here a little, there a little, precept by precept. I sympathized with my friend and told her that the direct confrontations against my thinking by some of my Catholic convert friends years ago probably delayed my conversion.

The other thing I would say to people who have concerns about some of these teachings is this: read what the Catechism of the Catholic Church actually says. Don't go by what some lay Catholic is saying or doing. Some do go overboard on Mary or even on the Pope. And don't go by what you've heard from various critics outside the Church. There are so many lies and misrepresentations out there about the Catholic Church and the Catholic faith, it is not funny.