Why the Magisterium Still Matters — A Firm Foundation for an Ever-Changing World

06-21-2026Weekly ReflectionJen Arnold, M.A.

When the Church was first established, with Peter as the first pope and the Apostles as the first bishops, it was under specific conditions. In the early years of the Church, the customs and rules of Christianity were still being formed. So, we see a process develop very early in the Acts of the Apostles, in which the Church would address questions as they arose over time through ecumenical councils. The first Ecumenical Council of Jerusalem in the Book of Acts (Chapter 15) can be summarized as follows:

There was a disagreement among believers over if Gentiles should be circumcised upon their conversion. Jesus had not given explicit instructions on the matter, nor was there any Scripture beyond the Old Testament to direct them, so some understood it one way, while others understood it another. The Apostles, the first bishops, got together to discuss the issue. After debating different points of view and reviewing the Scripture they had, they reached an agreement and drafted a decree on official Church teaching. The Apostles then distributed the decree to all the other assemblies of the Christian Church.

We still see this process practiced today, as we have throughout all of Church history. As issues and questions have come up in the Church regarding what we should do, how we should practice, what we should believe, and what Jesus intended, our bishops, cardinals, and popes have gathered under the protection of the Holy Spirit to discuss and debate God’s will for His Church under the guidance of Sacred Scripture. Then decrees are drafted and promulgated by the pope, enabling believers to know the official teaching on the issue. This is how doctrine and dogmas have been developed and revealed to Christians over the years. Believing that the Magisterium — the teaching authority and not simply the men themselves — is protected by the Holy Spirit, which was given to the Church at Pentecost, believers are called to give their assent to the Church’s teaching because it has been determined to be true and God’s will.

With the first Council of Jerusalem, the Apostles discussed how to deal with the issue of circumcision for Gentile converts. That was their biggest problem at the time regarding Church teaching. There is no way they could have anticipated how times would change through the centuries or how complex our problems would become. So, this process of convening ecumenical councils — of which there have been 21 — to address the circumstances and problems of the times, is truly a witness to the protection of the Holy Spirit because the Church is still standing over 2,000 years later.

One issue that the Apostles in Jerusalem could not have anticipated, which was eventually addressed at the Second Vatican Council, was how to use mass media for communication. By the 1960s, the Church, like the rest of the world, was just learning how to navigate new communication technologies. Therefore, Vatican II issued Inter Mirifica: Decree on the Media of Social Communications (IM).

The decree begins by marveling at how, with God’s help, man has been able to invent and innovate wonderful things that allow for communication with large masses of people at one time. It cites “the press, the cinema, radio, television, and others” (IM #1). Of course, now we can add the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence, things unimaginable at the time, but still in the same category. Moving forward, the decree goes on to acknowledge that, like anything else, these new media platforms can be used to enrich man and build up the kingdom of God on earth, but they may also be misused to oppose God’s plan for man and cause him harm. For this reason, the Council found it appropriate to address the media specifically (IM #2). In all her wisdom, the Church can recognize a social issue, such as the use of broadcast media, formulate teachings on it, and issue decrees that remain timeless. Even though this document was written over 60 years ago, amid more primitive technological knowledge, the information remains relevant today.

The Church’s primary mission is to preach the gospel for the salvation of souls, and she has access to media to help her on that journey (IM #3). Anyone using modern social communication must be aware of its impact on souls and should therefore use it morally and with a clear conscience. They must pay special attention when dealing with particularly controversial issues appropriate to the times. Human beings have a right to sufficient information as it is directed toward the common good. Therefore, special attention must be paid to making sure the information being broadcast is true. Additionally, the information must be delivered with love, in a way that upholds man’s dignity (IM #4-5). Media may also be used for art and to explore “a deeper knowledge and analysis of man and…[the] manifestation of the true and good in all their splendor.” Again, with all of this comes a responsibility to consider morality in the use of media, leading souls toward good rather than toward sin (IM #6-7).

The decree goes on to lay out the responsibilities of the consumers of social communication. They are to choose sources that contribute to their virtue and avoid anything that communicates evil. They must inform their consciences to help them in recognizing poor use of social communication (IM #9). Consumers must learn moderation and discipline in using media, something we can see a great struggle with today, as our devices have made our access to social communication so easy. Parents have a particular duty to monitor their children’s media use so that they do not endanger their souls (IM #10-11). Finally, this first section of the decree appeals to civic leaders to respect liberties and freedoms regarding access to information and the rights of those who wish to exercise their freedom to use media for mass communication (IM #12). Essentially, the Council uses the first section to address both producers and consumers of media and social communication, reminding them of their particular responsibilities in their interactions with it. These are timely reminders, given how many television channels, streaming services, websites, and sources of information are before our eyes and in our hands every day. Are we taking the initiative to responsibly consume information that is true, beautiful, good, and virtue-building?

The second half of the decree goes on to deal with how the Church and her individual members should take advantage of new developments in social communication to build up the Body of Christ. Pastors should be “particularly zealous in this field, since it is closely linked with their task of preaching the Gospel” (IM #13). Those laymen who work in the production of mass communication should be good witnesses of Christ in their work and cooperate with the pastoral activity in the Church (#13). The Church is to support the press that presents the truth and promotes the common good, as well as the creation of films that do the same, particularly for children. Radio programs are also recognized as needing support in creating high-quality family content. In other words, all forms of media that allow participants to share in the life of the Church should be encouraged and supported by the Church (IM #14).

To meet the needs of people regarding media, anyone within the Church who wishes to use it should have proper training and access to appropriate education, not only in the technical aspects but also in the art forms. Members of the Church wishing to use these methods to promote the kingdom of God should have full support. It should be remembered that different demographics, age groups, and cultural groups use mass communication differently, so attention should be paid to reaching as many as possible (IM #16). Finally, the Council urges that the Catholic voice ought not to be silenced in the media due to inactivity on the part of those involved (IM #17). The Church supports the use of mass communication in her mission and will assist individuals in doing so, however she can. We now have official Church teaching on how this is done.

While this particular decree may seem to focus on a very specific area, I hope it illustrates how the Church works in handing on the faith through the Magisterium. There is no way the early Church could have anticipated every issue we would ever encounter, nor are there explicit answers for every problem contained in Scripture. If we had one pastor deciding things for his flock one way and another pastor deciding them another way, we would not have unity. We are blessed that the Catholic Church works as it does, giving us unity in truth through the Magisterium under the watchful care of the Holy Spirit.