"There is a very well-defined procedure that allows the Vatican to raise issues with a particular theologian about something that does not appear in conformity with the Catholic faith. It is not always easy to make this determination"

Godfried Danneels is referring to the procedure of the Vatican elevating concerns with a theologian when their teachings are not in line with the Catholic faith. This procedure is extremely well-defined and also enables the Vatican to do something about it when essential. Nevertheless, it is not always very easy to make the decision of whether a theologian's teachings are in line with the Catholic belief. This is due to the fact that the interpretation of the belief can be subjective and open to dispute. The Vatican should meticulously think about the teachings of the theologian and make a reasoning based upon their understanding of the confidence. Eventually, the Vatican has the last word in identifying whether or not a theologian's teachings are in line with the Catholic belief.