The hermeneutic of continuity, sometimes called the hermeneutic of reform in continuity, is incoherent. Instead of following this interpretation of Vatican II documents, we should hold the documents to the standard put forth by Catholic Tradition. Definition(s) The hermeneutic of continuity surprisingly admits of two definitions. The Council documents must be understood in the light of Traditional Catholic doctrine. The Council documents already stand in continuity with Traditional Catholic doctrine, and the only way to see it is to apply this hermeneutic.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, recently gave an interview to a weekly magazine. Let’s see if we can apply some of the lessons learned from reading Pascendi Dominici Gregis to his statements. “The Church is not timeless” The Church is not timeless, she lives amidst the vicissitudes of history and the Gospel must be known and experienced by people today. We can see that no objective, undying truth of the Church is admitted here.