Madam, - Fr Tony Flannery takes exception to two items of Catholic teaching - its doctrines on contraception and infallibility, especially Papal infallibility ("Unwillingness to admit mistakes weakens church", Rite and Reason, October 17th). Since these teachings are an integral part of the Catholic faith, I find it difficult to understand why they should be ignored, as he suggests.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church leaves no doubt that they are an integral part of the Church's teaching. As regards Papal infallibility it teaches: "When the Church through her supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine 'for belief as being divinely revealed' (Dei Verbum 10:2), and as the teaching of Christ, this definition 'must be adhered to with the obedience of faith' (Lumen gentium 23:2)."
Similarly, as regards contraception, it speaks of this teaching as being "established by God" and "expounded on numerous occasion by the Magisterium". Pope Paul VI upheld this teaching in his 1968 Encyclical Humanae Vitae, although he knew well that it would not be popular.
Like the apostles in their time, the Catholic Church is not out to seek popularity, but fidelity to Christ and to his teaching. - Yours, etc,
Rev MICHAEL MANNING, Millstreet, Co Cork.
