Wolseley
Beaucoup-Diên-Cai-Dāu
- Feb 5, 2002
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I'll barge in here and put in my 2 cent's worth. Regarding the Pope:
This limits the Pope quite a bit in what he can say to make an infallible statement. Usually when he does make one, it's merely a definition of a previously existing doctrine in the Church; this is what the Pope does in an infallible statement: he defines doctrine, he does not invent it.
It sounds to me as if your MIL is following a line of thought promulgated by liberal American theologians since Vatican II called "following your conscience." It doesn't stand up to examination by the Church, but ultimately God is the only One Who can judge what's in her heart. We should never judge teh entire Church on the mistakes, sins, or disordered actions of one of her members. Compassion should rule here, not judgement.
Blessings,
---Wols.
It has to be a bit more specific. The Supreme Pontiff can only make an infallible statement (i.e., protected from error) when he is meeting a very stringent set of requirements. One, he has to be speaking in the official capacity as Vicar of Christ, or head of the entire Catholic Church---or to use the Latin term, ex cathedra ("from the chair"), Peter's throne. Two: he must be speaking in an area that pertains only to faith or morals. (No politics, no predicting who will win the World Series, etc.) Three: whatever he says cannot contradict Scripture, Sacred Tradition, or any other previously revealed truth.I still don't believe that he is divinely protected from saying anything that is "wrong" when he puts on his robe. So, do you say that the pope is just a normal man in his mundane life and becomes divinely protected once he puts on that robe and hat?
This limits the Pope quite a bit in what he can say to make an infallible statement. Usually when he does make one, it's merely a definition of a previously existing doctrine in the Church; this is what the Pope does in an infallible statement: he defines doctrine, he does not invent it.
The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, which is a body of high-ranking prelates in the Church. Cardinal is an honorary title, giving the bearer some prestige, but really they are usually just archbishops or else prefects of an office in the Vatican. Cardinals are not elected, they are appointed by the reigning Pope; when the Pope dies, a select number of Cardinals who are permitted to vote (the College) hold a conclave, and they elect the next Pontiff. Specifically, the Pope is the only Catholic prelate who gets elected---bishops and priests are appointed by the Pontiff.Am I correct in saying that he is "elected", not appointed by God during an assembly to choose someone? Let me try to clarify that. I mean to say that he is elected from body of other elected folks as opposed to all of them being in a room for the selection and they hear a voice from above saying "This is the man I want".
Sort of like trying to find a good Catholic church in Holland, Michigan, which has more Christian Reformed Church people than any other place on the surface of the planet.I lived in New Orleans for many years and it is a prodominatly catholic city. I had to search for several weeks to find a decent Baptist church to attend.
First, use of artifical birth control is considered by the Church as an intrinsic evil, but it does not incur automatic excommunication. (Procuring an abortion does, however.) Lying to a priest is also a sin, but we are sinful beings, after all, who get into a lot of trouble from time to time.One more quick question, if I may. My mother-in-law was a good church-going catholic for many years and she now goes only a few times a year. Now, after my husband's brother was born with cataracts and other problems, they started using birth control. She lied to her priest when he asked if anyone was doing that. I was told that she either was or would be excommunicated if this was discovered, yet she still goes to church and takes communion (no confession time that I know of). What do you think of that?
It sounds to me as if your MIL is following a line of thought promulgated by liberal American theologians since Vatican II called "following your conscience." It doesn't stand up to examination by the Church, but ultimately God is the only One Who can judge what's in her heart. We should never judge teh entire Church on the mistakes, sins, or disordered actions of one of her members. Compassion should rule here, not judgement.
Blessings,
---Wols.
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