Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale506

the Congregation, considering that Sr. Farley's response did not adequately

clarify the grave problems contained in her book, decided to proceed with the

publication of this Notification.

1. General problems

The author does not present a correct understanding of the role of the

Church's Magisterium as the teaching authority of the Bishops united with

the Successor of Peter, which guides the Church's ever deeper understanding

of the Word of God as found in Holy Scripture and handed on faithfully in

the Church's living tradition. In addressing various moral issues, Sr. Farley

either ignores the constant teaching of the Magisterium or, where it is occa-

sionally mentioned, treats it as one opinion among others. Such an attitude is

in no way justified, even within the ecumenical perspective that she wishes to

promote. Sr. Farley also manifests a defective understanding of the objective

nature of the natural moral law, choosing instead to argue on the basis of

conclusions selected from certain philosophical currents or from her

own understanding of "contemporary experience". This approach is not

consistent with authentic Catholic theology.

2. Specific problems

Among the many errors and ambiguities of this book are its positions on

masturbation, homosexual acts, homosexual unions, the indissolubility of

marriage and the problem of divorce and remarriage.

Masturbation

Sr. Farley writes: "Masturbation... usually does not raise any moral ques-

tions at all. ... It is surely the case that many women... have found great good

in self-pleasuring - perhaps especially in the discovery of their own possibi-

lities for pleasure - something many had not experienced or even known

about in their ordinary sexual relations with husbands or lovers. In this way,

it could be said that masturbation actually serves relationships rather than

hindering them. My final observation is, then, that the norms of justice as I

have presented them would seem to apply to the choice of sexual self-plea-

suring only insofar as this activity may help or harm, only insofar as it