Is the consensus of theologians binding on us the way the consensus of the Fathers is?
A viewer asks how the consensus of the theologians works and whether it is binding to the same extent as the consensus of the Fathers.
Answer
No. Only the consensus of the Fathers, when they are in agreement to a large extent, is binding on us, according to the Council of Trent. Some people talk about a quorum of the more exceptional Fathers, like Augustine, Chrysostom, and Jerome, but Trent does not talk that way; it speaks only of a consensus of the Fathers, and while it does not define exactly what a consensus is, it is certainly more than a quorum. That theme continues through Vatican I, Vatican II, and the catechism, though few pay attention to it today; I found that out with geocentrism, where the Fathers were in consensus but nobody wants to hear it. The theologians, on the other hand, you do not have to listen to at all; they are only there to help you if they happen to get it right, and most get it wrong, so you must be careful which you listen to. Why is the consensus of the Fathers different? Because the Fathers were closest to the apostles, and the closer they are, the better the chance they have the truth, and we know they have it when they all say the same thing.