Orthodoxy in the Church

By Fr. Vincent Gluc, OFM Conv.

It seems the buzz word in the Catholic Church today is orthodoxy.  It was even highlighted by the Archdiocese of Atlanta as a qualification for candidates to the Priesthood.  Like any word, orthodoxy can be understood in various ways.  There are even Orthodox Churches which are not in union with Rome that use the term!  So what is orthodoxy and how should it be understood?

In it’s purest form, to be orthodox is to be rooted in the truth.  A Catholic who is orthodox would be one who is faithful to the truth of the Gospel and to the magisterium of the Church.  Therefore, it would be the goal of all Catholics to be orthodox in our faith and certainly a necessary requirement for any candidate to the Priesthood.

However, orthodoxy as a buzz word has always left me a bit uneasy.  As a buzz word, orthodoxy seems to leave us with the impression that to be orthodox means we need to be part of the more conservative movement of the Church.  Some circles in the Church are trying to equate the two...and that is where the problem lies.

In reflecting upon the Feast of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian (September 16), history teaches that varied opinions or theologies in the Church is not a new phenomenon, nor is liberalism the result of the Second Vatican Council or an American phenomenon based upon our democratic approach to things, as some might want us to believe.  The very Feast of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian testifies to the fact that varying theologies...whether conservative, liberal, or moderate...were alive and well in the very early days of the Church and will continue to express themselves until the end of time.  It’s all part of human nature...it’s all part of searching for the truth (orthodoxy).

Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian and the Church of their day faced serious and ongoing persecutions. Many died as martyrs while many became apostates, that is, they denied their faith in Christ to avoid death.  The Church struggled with that reality and the question of whether an apostate could be admitted back into the Church after denying Christ.  There were those in the Church who held a more “conservative” approach, that re-admission was impossible and that apostates were left to the mercy of God.  A more “liberal” position came forward saying that indeed apostates were welcome back without penalty or requirement.  Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian were influential in promoting a more moderate position.  Yes, apostates were welcome back, but not without the "usual medicines of repentance."

What is operative here is a developing theology on the Sacrament of Reconciliation which continues even to this day.  Our growth and understanding of the truth is an ongoing and never-ending process. Where would we be if the Church stopped the discussion on confession at the time of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian?  We'd only have one chance after baptism to celebrate the sacrament and like the people of that day, probably wait until our death bed to celebrate it!

We’ve all heard the phrase: "virtue is found in the middle."  Given our Church history and the Spirit's operation for centuries, it seems that statement is true.  I would also propose that orthodoxy is found in the middle as well.

In most cases, extreme theological positions often challenge the Church to clarify and better define the truth. After serious prayer and theological reflection the Church is able to better articulate the message of the Gospel as seen in the lives of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian and our two thousand year history. Orthodoxy is found in the truth ... not in any particular theological perspective of the Church. May the discussions continue as we follow the Spirit's lead.