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.