Ad Tuendam Fidem

According to a correct understanding of Ad Tuendam Fidem, (“Church's ‘Definitive Teachings’ Defended in Papal Letter,” Register, July 12-19) truths taught by the Magisterium on matters of faith and morals, whether of a revealed (de fide credenda) or of a definitive (de fide tenenda) character, require an irrevocable assent, which means they are infallible.

All definite truths proposed and taught by the Magisterium in the dogmatic and moral area are infallible even if not solemnly defined. These truths, necessarily connected to revealed truth, are based on faith in the Holy Spirit's assistance to the Magisterium to teach with divine authority the truth about the deposit of faith entrusted to the Church by Christ.

Mark Schulzetenbery

St. Paul, Minnesota

Vatican Top 45

I'm just curious as to how a movie like Schindler's List made it to the Vatican Top 45 of 100 years of film. Who composes this list and does it have papal approval? Why would a film with gratuitous nudity make the Top 45 list anyway, despite its “redeeming social value?” Or does political correctness about the Jewish Holocaust take precedence over concerns for Christian morality in today's Church? I think an explanation is in order here. Unfortunately, we have traveled far from the days of the Legion of Decency. Hollywood now has no qualms about throwing gratuitous nudity and sex scenes into generally good movies like Titanic and Schindler's List. The Church should make its protest known and not reward such films with acclaim.

Paul Trouve

Montague, New Jersey

Editor's note: The list is the Vatican's selection of 45 full-length films from 100 years of cinema deemed to have special artistic and religious merit. It was compiled and released by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in 1995, under the leadership of Archbishop John Foley.

Pope & the Holy Spirit

I am grateful to the Register for printing the Holy Father's address at Pentecost (“A Supreme Counselor on All Things Forever,” June 14-20). Pope John Paul wants each of us to invite the Holy Spirit more fully into our lives and into our world. His encyclical, The Lord and Giver of Life, explains what is contained in that invitation to the Holy Spirit. “And when he comes, he will convince the world about sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Holy Father continues that convincing the world about sin means creating the condition for its salvation. Our nation truly has witnessed the devastation of trying to live without the benefit of the Ten Commandments. Pope John Paul II, so aware of the work of the Holy Spirit, hopes for the redemption of the world.

Also, it is through the action of the Holy Spirit that bread and wine are totally transformed into the life-giving body and blood of Christ. We can hope for total transformation by the action of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Let us invite the Lord and Giver of Life to act in our hearts and in our nation.

Jan Urbanic

Ann Arbor, Michigan