What is the Authoritative Catholic explanation of why the Magi get a pass, yet Catholics are to reject astrology?

It seems to me that the question is based on speculation. What is “Magian Astrology” supposed to be in the context of the Bible? The Google search engine returns no hits for this term. For the alternative term “Magi astrology”, Goggle returns a Wikipedia page about system of astrology introduced to the public by the Magi Society, its originator, through its three books published from 1995-1999.

As far as I am aware there is no explanation in the Gospels as to how the wise men of the East came to consider an astronomical event (the star in the East) as a sign of the birth of the king of the Jews in Bethlehem as prophesied by the prophet Micheas (Matt. 2:6, Mich 5:2). The only reference to the wise men is in the Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 2:

[Mt 2:1]When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, [Mt 2:2]Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him. (Douay-Rheims Bible/Challoner Revisions)

The Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi states that the English term “wise men” as used in the KJV and DRB is a translation from the Greek word “Magoi”, itself derived from the old Persian term “Magus”, describing a member of the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. This caste was known for its knowledge of astrology, which at that time was the study of anything to do with the stars, and therefore included astronomy. It is likely that anybody who at that time engaged in what we would today regard as scientific investigation would have acquired whatever knowledge of astronomy existed at the time and been considered a wise man or magus. The Latin word “Magus” derived from the Greek later came to mean a wizard, sorcerer, or magician - hence the English word “magic”. Thus the meaning of the word "Magus" evolved over time. The fact that the Greek word "Magoi" is derived from the Persian word "Magus" does not necessarily mean that it had exactly the same meaning. It could have meant just “wise men” or “wise kings” as interpreted by the English translators of the Bible.

It seems likely that the wise men would have acted upon one or more prophesies in the Scriptures rather than on some astrological prediction in the modern sense of the term. One possibility is that they may have taken into consideration the so-called “Star prophesy”:

[Numb. 24:17] I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.

In my opinion the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations should reject all forms of magic, divination, and witchcraft, because such “powers” conflict with the concept that only the one and only God, or prophets or saints filled with the Holy Spirit, could possibly possess such powers. In other words, forms of divination fall into the realm of activities inspired by the enemies of God.

More specifically, Catholics (and Christians in general) should reject astrology because sorcery, witchcraft and astrology are condemned in the Bible multiple times; as, for example, in the following Bible passages:

A

Isaiah 47:12-14

12 Stand now with thy enchanters, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be it may profit thee any thing, or if thou mayst become stronger.

13 Thou hast failed in the multitude or thy counsels: let now the astrologers stand and save thee, they that gazed at the stars, and counted the months, that from them they might tell the things that shall come to thee.

14 Behold they are as stubble, fire hath burnt them, they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flames: there are no coals wherewith they may be warmed, nor fire, that they may sit thereat.

B

Malachias 3:5

5 And I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widows, and the fatherless: and oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith the Lord of hosts.

C

Galatians 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, 20 Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, 21 Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

D

Apocalypse 9.21 Neither did they penance from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts.

From Catholic Sources, who were the Magi?

Exactly who the magi were though remains somewhat of a mystery.

Oftentimes, the English translations of the Bible use the word astrologers for magi. In Greek, the original language of the Gospel' the word magos (magoi, plural) has four meanings:

(1) a member of the priestly class of ancient Persia, where astrology and astronomy were prominent in Biblical times;
(2) one who had occult knowledge and power, and was adept at dream
interpretation' astrology, fortune-telling, divination, and spiritual mediation;
(3) a magician; or
(4) a charlatan, who preyed upon people using the before mentioned practices.

From these possible definitions and the description provided in the gospel, the magi were probably Persian priest-astrologers who could interpret the stars, particularly the significance of the star that proclaimed the birth of the Messiah. (Even the ancient historian Herodotus (d. 5 century BC) would attest to the astrological prowess of the priestly class of Persia.) - Straight Answers: Who Were the Magi?, by Fr. William Saunders HERALD Columnist.

What is the difference between the condemned knowledge sought in CCC 2116 and the knowledge of the Magi?

The answer is God.

The condemned knowledge sought in CCC 2116 is knowledge sought apart from God and one which only God possesses, therefore seeking such knowledge is contrary to the first commandment, whilst the source of knowledge of the Magi is God himself through his prophets, prophecy, his creation or via a miracululous phenomenon.

To the Jews who used their reason, a rational creature, i.e. an Angel, ought to preach. But the Gentiles who knew not to use their reason are brought to the knowledge of the Lord, not by words, but by signs; to the one prophecy, as to the faithful; to the other signs, as to the unbelievers. One and the same Christ is preached, when of perfect age, by Apostles; when an infant, and not yet able to speak, is announced by a star to the Gentiles; for so the order of reason required; speaking preachers proclaimed a speaking Lord, mute signs proclaimed a mute infant. - St. Gregory the Great, Hom. in Ev. Lib. i. Hom. 10.