[cothrige]

I suppose popes don't contradict Catholic dogma because they modify the dogma before they make their pronouncements. And then you have a bunch of Catholics telling us we're crazy. It's like the news media protecting this administration.

What you write here sounds ridiculous to me, as a Catholic, because of course I know that dogma cannot be altered or rescinded. However, I have actually read other Catholics amazingly argue that a pope cannot be a heretic because anything they say would automatically be Catholic dogma. Silly, of course, and not at all Catholic, but it does show one side of the current state of the modern Church. It isn't just the raging liberals who have problems.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Please vet mine at #42!

[HarleyD]

What you write here sounds ridiculous to me, as a Catholic, because of course I know that dogma cannot be altered or rescinded.

Dogma does gets altered or rescinded plenty of time. The Catholic church no longer support slavery as it did in the 17th Century. And if you read through the 4th Lateran Council of 1215, I sincerely doubt that the pope will grant you absolution if you marched into the Middle East and started a fight with the Muslims. Should we mention the ever changing doctrine on Mary? Catholics just don't understand their history. I would call your attention to the Catholic News Agency:

First Question: Did the Second Vatican Council change the Catholic doctrine on the Church?

Response: The Second Vatican Council neither changed nor intended to change this doctrine, rather it developed, deepened and more fully explained it.

This was exactly what John XXIII said at the beginning of the Council1. Paul VI affirmed it2 and commented in the act of promulgating the Constitution Lumen gentium: "There is no better comment to make than to say that this promulgation really changes nothing of the traditional doctrine. What Christ willed, we also will. What was, still is. What the Church has taught down through the centuries, we also teach. In simple terms that which was assumed, is now explicit; that which was uncertain, is now clarified; that which was meditated upon, discussed and sometimes argued over, is now put together in one clear formulation"3. The Bishops repeatedly expressed and fulfilled this intention4. Catholic News Agency on Vatican II

Did you ever read such doublespeak? Nothing has changed but Christ wills is our will and this is what He wills (that it be changed). The Church "deepened, developed and more fully explained it" is code words for change. If you go to the Catholic encyclopedia New Advent, you will find these same statements in regards to the atonement, justification, sanctification, and a host of other Christian dogma. The Church makes no excuses, it does change it's teachings (see US Catholic, How Does the Church Teaching Changes

Catholic teaching (yes dogma) has changed. They simply don't want to admit it. And, with this new pope, you can probably expect more changes. It will be interesting to see if he brings on board a female Cardinal. But we'll just hear that this has always been the teaching-it's just evolving.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

“What you write here sounds ridiculous to me, as a Catholic, because of course I know that dogma cannot be altered or rescinded.”

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You do realize this is circular, right? As a Catholic you cannot believe that dogma can be altered or rescinded. Therefore, you know that dogma cannot be altered or rescinded. Even though, actually, it is, and quite frequently.