Well, first of all, some of them come from Christ himself. For example, the teaching on divorce and remarriage comes from Jesus, "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery..." (Lk 16:18). The teaching on fornication is also from Jesus: "From the hearts of men come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder... and [these] defile a man" (Mk 7:21, 23). The immorality of adultery is from the ten commandments and is re-iterated by Jesus in Mk 10:19. If Jesus is God, we ought to accept his word, no?

Other teachings of the Church are not necessarily directly from Scripture, for example those about abortion and contraception. This raises the question of the Church in God’s plan. Did he intend the Church to teach about moral issues not explicitly covered in Scripture? Did he give any indications on this? It seems so. In Lk 10:16 he told those whom he sent, "He who hears you hears me." He also told the apostles "I am with you always, until the end of the world" (Mt 28:20). Did he mean that he would be there encouraging the Church, sitting by while it taught errors on the moral life?

When he knocked Paul off his horse for persecuting the Church, did Jesus say, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting my Church?" No, he said "...why are you persecuting me?" Jesus apparently identifies with his Church.

One more consideration: Is it reasonable to think that when Pope John Paul II, Paul VI, and other popes appear before God, He will say to them, "Why couldn’t you men get it right?" Will He say to the dissenters, "I’m so glad you tried to straighten out my popes on contraception, abortion, homosexual acts, divorce and remarriage, fornication and masturbation. They just didn’t get it!" (Many of the key theologians who have dissented on contraception, have dissented on these other things as well.)

Although it is possible to know moral truths by natural reason, our minds are easily clouded. For clarity, love is needed; love in the form of a strong prayer life. Think about it; pray about it. Much is at stake: your eternal destiny.

© 2000 Rev. T. G. Morrow - With ecclesiastical permission

Father in heaven, we pray with the Psalmist,

With all my heart I seek you;

do not let me stray from your commands.

In my heart I treasure your promise,

that I may not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O Lord;

teach me your laws...

I find joy in the way of your decrees

more than in all riches...

Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of your teachings...

Lead me from the way of deceit;

favor me with your teaching.

Jesus, our Savior, you died on the cross to give birth to your Church. You promised to be with your Church always, until the end of time. Help us to find in her the truth you want us to have, in her Sacred Scriptures and in her Sacred Teachings, that we might grow in your love, rejoice in your truth, and live in your light forever.

Holy Spirit of God, remove from us the spirit of the world and fill us with yourself. Give us knowledge, that we might know Your truth, understanding, that we might see the goodness of Your law, and wisdom, that we might see Your presence in Your Church.

We ask all of this through the intercession of Mary, our mother and queen. Amen

Psalm 119 from The New American Bible... © 1987 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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