Think you know your faith? Quiz Answers
Quentin de la Bédoyère challenges you to take a quiz that will reveal whether you were really paying attention during your RE classes
24 August 2007

1 (c) is correct. While the authors wrote whatever God wanted to be written and no more, they wrote as true authors through the literary forms of their time.

2 (d) is correct. One cannot inherit personal guilt, only a state of separation. The recent statement on Limbo expresses a fervent hope, but not a certainty. Before the commission of the first sin, God put Adam into the garden to till and care for it.

3 (c) is correct. The biological theory of evolution is not mere speculation, but is supported by good scientific evidence; however there are large gaps and it can probably never be rigorously proved. Evolution may, in principle, explain the whole material world but, being a biological theory, it cannot explain its ultimate origin or the spiritual aspects of man. The way in which God created the different species is beside the real point: that God did create the universe through whatever means. Its existence is dependent from moment to moment on his will.

4 (c) is correct. That the Trinity is a mystery is no excuse for not attempting to explore it; we will never exhaust this truth but we are invited to increase our understanding of its wonder. 232 ff in the Catechism is a good place to start. The shamrock, despite the legendary association with St Patrick, is fundamentally misleading.

5 a) is correct. The heresy of “one will” was formally condemned in the seventh century. The human will of Christ was of course in accord with the divine will. The temptations were genuine: “in every respect [He] has been tested as we are, but without sinning”.

6 (d) is correct. The Immaculate Conception refers to Mary’s own conception. The doctrine, though long believed, was defined in 1854. (The Assumption was defined in 1950.) Though many have believed that the actual birth of Christ was not according to the order of nature, we are not obliged to hold this. Mary’s virginity is not in question either way.

7 (a) is correct. Aquinas based his teaching on Aristotle’s faulty account of conception; modern biology shows that, if anything, it is the other way around. If you answered (c), congratulations on discovering a pope unknown to history.

8 (c) is correct (Canon Law). The pope was declared to be infallible in 1870, but he always had been. His infallibility is that of the Church, expressed through his particular office, and so not superior. A proposition can be infallible or fallible – nothing else.

9 (b) is correct. Boniface VIII used the phrase: “we declare, we proclaim, we define…” in his bull Unam Sanctam of 1302. His reference to secular matters is not regarded as a subject for infallibility; his reference to religious matters must be understood along the same lines as “Outside the Church there is no salvation”.

10 (a) is correct. Error, not being a person, is not a subject of rights. The sovereignty of conscience requires, in its proper formation, that a Catholic should look to the Church’s moral teaching, for which it has divine commission, as the primary guide; conflict with it is always a matter of serious responsibility.

11 (b) is correct. (a) is a Lutheran belief (consubstantiation). The consecrated bread and the consecrated wine are each alone the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

12 (d) is correct. We do not know that any human is in hell, and we do not know that the pains of hell are eternally suffered by all. The Catechism describes the chief suffering of hell as eternal separation from God. Fire is a good metaphor, not a literal doctrine.

13 (b) is correct. Purgatory is an important, defined doctrine (although described through human concepts) as most of us will find out. Its current low profile is a great loss, as it is an expression of God’s mercy. Indulgences are alive and kicking (see Catechism 1471 ff).

14 (c) is correct, although these old-fashioned terms can be misleading. They are the human virtues on which the good life turns (cardinal means “hinge”). Faith, hope and charity are the theological virtues, related directly to God who is their origin and their object. Naturally all of us should exercise the cardinal virtues, even cardinals.

15 (b) is correct. (a) is tempting but wrong. The sacrament can be received as often as is needed by those in danger of death, or, for instance, before a serious operation.

16 (c) is correct. Imperfect contrition suffices for sacramental absolution. Perfect contrition does not require our perfection but that our motive should be love of God and regret for offending him. Although forgiveness is not delayed, we must have the intention of mentioning it in Confession if circumstances allow.

17 (c) is correct. Venial sins are offences against God, and so very important. But even a thousand of them do not add up to a rejection of God, which is the essence of mortal sin. But carelessness about venial sin weakens our spiritual life and so exposes us to the danger of mortal sin when temptation arises.

18 (b) is correct. (a) would also have been correct following the 1994 Catechism, but this was amended for the second (1997) edition. “Discreet language” is not defined. Calumny is harming a reputation by falsehood, detraction is harming it by truth. Detraction may be justified when circumstances of duty apply. Gossip may seem harmless but it is a frequent occasion of sin.

19 (d) is correct. When a valid marriage between baptised persons has not been consummated the Pope has power to dissolve. Catholics can divorce when the secular law makes this a practical need. But they are not thereby free to re-marry. Marriage without presence of priest or deacon is permissible in specific circumstances when neither is available.

20 (b) is correct (Leviticus). Forms of the Golden Rule, as it is known, are found as far back as ancient Egypt and appear in a wide range of religions. It is an almost universal foundation tenet of morality.

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