[Mad Dawg]

I assume thats where the rationale for the belief is laid out ... ??

Well, sorta. That's where the official statement is, but the rationale sort of precipitates out of centuries of conversation and some disagreement -- including misunderstandings of embryology(!)

Here is the Encyclical Ineffabilis Deus

Here is the outline of the thinking in the Catechism.

[Claud]

Thanks Mad Dawg...good stuff. :)

[Claud]

Poor Aquinas always gets beat up on for his embryology!

Especially his bit about the female being an “occasioned” male. Sometimes, when I am feeling cheeky, I remind people about Y chromosomes. >:)

[dartuser]

That helped alot ... thanks.