Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei
Formation	1542
Founder	Pope Paul III
Type	Dicastery
Headquarters	Palace of the Holy Office, Vatican City
Prefect	Cardinal
Parent organization	Roman Curia

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), known in Latin as Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei, is a dicastery of the Roman Curia. It is responsible for promoting and safeguarding Catholic doctrine on faith and morals. The CDF is one of the oldest and most important departments of the Vatican, originally established in 1542 by Pope Paul III as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition.

History

The CDF was founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III with the aim of defending the Church from heresy. It was initially known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition. In 1908, it was renamed the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office by Pope Pius X. The current name, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was adopted in 1965 during the Second Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI.

Functions

The primary function of the CDF is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals throughout the Catholic world. It does this by:

• Examining writings and opinions that are contrary or dangerous to the faith.
• Promoting theological studies and ensuring that they are in line with Church teachings.
• Handling cases of grave offenses against the faith, such as heresy, apostasy, and schism.
• Overseeing the work of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and the International Theological Commission.

Structure

The CDF is led by a Prefect, who is usually a Cardinal. The Prefect is assisted by a Secretary, an Undersecretary, and a Promoter of Justice. The congregation is composed of a number of Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops who serve as members, as well as a staff of theologians and canon lawyers.

Notable Prefects

• Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (1981–2005), who later became Pope Benedict XVI.
• Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller (2012–2017).
• Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer (2017–present).

Controversies

The CDF has been involved in several controversies, particularly regarding its handling of cases of sexual abuse within the Church. It has also been criticized for its stance on issues such as liberation theology, the role of women in the Church, and its opposition to certain modern theological trends.

Also see

• Roman Curia
• Second Vatican Council
• Pope Benedict XVI
• Canon Law
• Theology