Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei 505

II

NOTIFICATION ON THE BOOK

JUST LOVE. A FRAMEWORK FOR CHRISTIAN

SEXUAL ETHICS

BY SR. MARGARET A. FARLEY, R.S.M.

Introduction

Having completed an initial examination of the book Just Love. A Frame-

work for Christian Sexual Ethics (New York: Continuum, 2006) by Sr.

Margaret A. Farley, R.S.M., the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

wrote to the author on March 29, 2010, through the good offices of Sr. Mary

Waskowiak - the then President of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas -

enclosing a preliminary evaluation of the book and indicating the doctrinal

problems present in the text. The response of Sr. Farley, dated October 28,

2010, did not clarify these problems in a satisfactory manner. Because the

matter concerned doctrinal errors present in a book whose publication has

been a cause of confusion among the faithful, the Congregation decided

to undertake an examination following the procedure for "Examination in

cases of urgency" contained in the Congregation's Regulations for Doctrinal

Examinations (Cfr Chap. IV, art. 23-27).

Following an evaluation by a Commission of experts (Cfr art. 24), the

Ordinary Session of the Congregation confirmed on June 8, 2011, that the

above-mentioned book contained erroneous propositions, the dissemination

of which risks grave harm to the faithful. On July 5, 2011, a letter was sent to

Sr. Waskowiak containing a list of these erroneous propositions and asking

her to invite Sr. Farley to correct the unacceptable theses contained in her

book (Cfr art. 25-26).

On October 3, 2011, Sr. Patricia McDermott, who in the meantime had

succeeded Sr. Mary Waskowiak as President of the Sisters of Mercy of the

Americas, forwarded to the Congregation - in accordance with art. 27 of

the above cited Regulations - the response of Sr. Farley, together with her

own opinion and that of Sr. Waskowiak. This response, having been exam-

ined by the Commission of experts, was submitted to the Ordinary Session

for judgement on December 14, 2011. On this occasion, the Members of