Richard A. Spinello
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
Since the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAL) was restructured several years ago by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, it has been mired in a series of high-profile scandals. The most recent controversy surrounds the publication of The Theological Ethics of Life. Woven into this book are proposals for modifying doctrines such as the prohibition against medically assisted procreation. The book also questions the teaching of Humanae Vitae, which forbids the use of contraceptives.
One of the contributors, Gilfredo Marenzo, argues that if “practical circumstances” make “the choice to generate irresponsible,” a couple may have recourse to the use of contraception devices.
In subsequent interviews and tweets, members of the Academy have insisted that Paul VI’s teaching on contraception is not infallible and hence subject to revision. According to Fr. Maurizio Chiodi, Humanae Vitae does not belong to the infallible magisterium of the Church. On the …More