The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has opened a new domain (www.doctrinafidei.va)
within the official website of the Holy See. Below is the text of the announcement
of the re-organisation and updating of the Congregation’s site:
Documents of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which have the express approbation
of the Holy Father participate in his ordinary Magisterium as the Successor of Peter
(cf. Instruction Donum veritatis on the ecclesial vocation of the theologian:
24 May 1990, n. 18). For this reason, attentive reception of these texts is important
for all members of the faithful and in particular for those who are engaged in theological
and pastoral work in the name of the Church.
Wider distribution of the teaching
of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is necessary in today's world. The
documents of the Congregation which have been published from the time of the Second
Vatican Council were printed in the volume, CONGREGATIO PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI, Documenta
inde a Concilio Vaticano Secundo expleto edita (1966-2005): LEV, Vatican City,
2006. These texts treat significant questions for the life and mission of the Church
and give important doctrinal responses to the challenges of our times.
In order
to facilitate online consultation of its documents, the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith has created a new domain (www.doctrinafidei.va) in addition to the already
existing access from the official site of the Holy See (www.vatican.va).
The
major documents of the Congregation are available in eight languages: Latin, French,
English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Polish. Certain documents are also
available in Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, and Dutch. The work of adding other translations
continues. At the present, each document is available in its original language as
well as in some translations.
The documents are organized in two ways on the
website. There is a general list of all the texts organized chronologically, and three
subgroups of these texts, divided into doctrinal, disciplinary and sacramental documents.
In
addition, the website also presents information on the Congregation's series "Documenti
e Studi" which are individual printed volumes presenting a major document of the Congregation
together with commentaries by noted theologians. There is also a description of the
volumes containing the proceedings of various symposia organized by the Congregation
in recent years. Finally, the website includes various speeches and other contributions
by the Cardinal Prefects.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is
convinced that the enhanced availability of these documents will be of significant
value in communicating the teaching of the Church to people throughout the world.