Episode 278: Pedro Gabriel on the Role of Tradition in Forming Catholic Teaching (March 4, 2024)

In this episode of The Open Door (Monday, March 4th) we’ll discuss the role of tradition in forming Catholic teaching. Some argue that Pope Francis overlooks the normative role of tradition. Others argue that some papal critics, as well as critics of Vatican Council II, misunderstand the dynamic nature of tradition itself. We’ll discuss, too, the development of doctrine and what it means. Our guest is the Portugal-based Pedro Gabriel. Dr. Gabriel is one of the co-founders of the apologetics website “Where Peter Is.” He is also a medical oncologist. He recently authored Heresy Disguised as Tradition (En Route, 2023). The following are among the questions we’ll ask are the following. Please feel free to suggest others!

1. What counts as “tradition”? Does a simple appeal to the social sciences answer this question? (25)
2. What is a radical traditionalist? Is there such a thing as “hyperpapalism”?
3. What is the scope of the teaching that Catholics are “to be united in mind and heart” with the Holy Father? Does it extend to matters of diplomacy? To philosophical orientation?
4. How are we to know the mind of the pope, especially when it is changing?
5. Should we assume that Pope Francis is as attuned to the Catholicism of Africa as he is to the Catholicism of Europe and the Americas?
6. To what extent is culture normative?
7. Would you assess Pope Francis’s restrictions on the Latin Mass as “harsh”? (17)
8. “Subjective culpability” can become a “mitigating circumstance” in moral assessment of an act involving grave matter. In such cases how are we to provide sound moral guidance?
9. Could you explain for us the concept of “complexio oppositorum”? Is it compatible with the principle of non-contradiction?
10. Has synodality come to terms with fundamental theological disagreements?