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Can a Pope Be a Heretic?
Crisis Magazine ^ | 3/4/15 | Jacob W. Wood

Posted on 03/04/2015 9:35:19 AM PST by marshmallow

Recently, Cardinal Burke stated that, if Pope Francis were to endorse a position on marriage and sexuality that were contrary to the tradition of the Church, that he would be obliged to “resist” the pontiff. Although the cardinal clarified that he was speaking of a purely hypothetical situation, he hit upon a nerve that gets struck from time to time among Catholics—in instant messages, in passing, on Facebook, though almost never in print—“What if?” What if Cardinal Kasper’s ideology takes over the upcoming Ordinary Synod on Marriage and the Family? What if the behind-the-scenes machinations of his supporters ultimately win the day? What if the pope lets civilly divorced and remarried Catholics receive communion?

Fr. James Schall identified the dilemma last year, when he pointed out that the elephant in the room is the question of heresy. If Church discipline of excluding Catholics who have obtained a civil divorce and remarriage from Communion is based on infallible Church doctrine about sin and repentance, and if the pope tries to change that discipline, wouldn’t that make the pope a heretic concerning that doctrine?

In the finest tradition of Jesuit discourse, Fr. Schall insisted that we talk about the elephant rather than staring at it. I agree because I know that God is not going to let us down, and neither is Pope Francis.

What is a heretic?

In order to even talk about the elephant, we have to identify it. A “heretic” is someone guilty of a heresy. According to the Catechism, “heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same.” A heretic differs from an “apostate,” who is guilty of “apostasy” (the total repudiation of the.....

(Excerpt) Read more at crisismagazine.com ...


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To: MeganC; BipolarBob
These are the only Scriptures that I could find that use the term 'anti-christ'.

There are some more that concern FALSE Christs and also the BEAST; but I did not include them.


2 John 1:7 - For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

1 John 2:22 - Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

121 posted on 03/07/2015 4:53:40 AM PST by Elsie
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To: Forward the Light Brigade
There was only ONE perfect human—and we nailed him to a cross in our foolishness.

Oh?

Where would we be today if we'd NOT nailed Him there?

122 posted on 03/07/2015 4:55:46 AM PST by Elsie
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To: Mrs. Don-o
Thank you for your courtesy and good sense, NRx, which I pray will be more widely imitated.

Trolling?

Who tossed the question about Protestant divorce into the mix?

123 posted on 03/07/2015 4:56:52 AM PST by Elsie
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To: BipolarBob
The Bible refers to the Anti-Christ as that man of perdition.
No; it does not.
 
 
 
2 Thessalonians 2 King James Version (KJV)

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 

 

 

 
1 John 4:3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
 
Note these two verses:  anti-christ is ALREADY here !
 
 

124 posted on 03/07/2015 5:05:05 AM PST by Elsie
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To: ansel12
So who decides if the Pope is being infallible, and where is the information coming from that he is delivering to you infallibly?

I think it's a bunch of FALLIBLE guys, voting on whether what the Head Fella said.

125 posted on 03/07/2015 5:06:43 AM PST by Elsie
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To: Elsie

It is true we use the term “anti-christ” rather loosely to describe the authority (whether it be a government, a Church or an unholy man) rather than the more broader mindset/agenda that works in opposition to God and His plans. Revelation describes “beast”, “false prophet” and even “frogs” as part of an unholy trinity in the last days. As Jesus was a Man that was so closely connected to God that They were joined in a bond then it seems logical that the false prophet is likewise joined with Satan. He will be able to mimic (but not exactly re-produce) miracles. Pray and watch.


126 posted on 03/07/2015 5:21:55 AM PST by BipolarBob (I may be bi-polar but at least I like myselves.)
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To: Elsie; MeganC; BipolarBob

You missed a few such as Daniel 7:24, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10, Revelation 13:1,2, Revelation 13:7, and others.


127 posted on 03/07/2015 5:51:43 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: BipolarBob

I thought the Anti-Christ would arise from within the church.


128 posted on 03/07/2015 6:01:41 AM PST by stayathomemom (Beware of kittens modifying your posts.)
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To: marshmallow
Not that it actually matters to the thread, but the question of whether or not a pope can be a heretic is not merely a hypothetical one as assumed in the article.

Pope Honorius (625 to 638 A.D) was officially condemned and excommunicated posthumously from the Church for heresy by an Ecumenical Council and his condemnation was affirmed by a subsequent Pope, Leo II.

An Ecumenical Council Officially Condemns a Pope for Heresy

Cordially,

129 posted on 03/07/2015 6:31:25 AM PST by Diamond (He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people,)
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To: Elsie; NRx
FReeper etiquette: pinging NRx to yours at #123
130 posted on 03/07/2015 8:36:20 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("The trouble ain't what people don't know: it's what they DO know that ain't so." - Will Rogers)
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To: ansel12; don-o
Ansel12, let me point out the folly of equating a Catholic hermeneutic of continuity, with Mormonism. Mormonism is explicitly built, not on continuity, but on its opposite, rupture.

I am no Mormon theologian, but I do know that the Mormons believe that the whole Christian Church apostasized sometime rather shortly after the death of the last Apostle, went through 1800 years of sheer heresy, only to have the Church restored in the 1800's by none other than that tireless religious entrepreneur, Joseph Smith.

They have nothing whatsoever to do with 20 centuries of sensus fidei in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th. 5th centuries, right up to the present ("continuity") plus the theological reflection by Fathers and Doctors of the Church.

This is not just a slight difference between Catholicism and Mormonism: in this respect, they are polar opposites upon the very foundations of the Faith.

It is hard to communicate with a person who refuses to consult primary sources even when they are only a mouse-click or a finger-tap away; who demands primary-school answers to matters of great complexity; and who draws conclusions diametrically opposed to the evidence.

This is no dialogue. It is a dual monologue on two parallel tracks which never meet. To be frank, I continue to put forth the necessary effort only for the sake of the lurkers.

131 posted on 03/07/2015 9:01:33 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("The trouble ain't what people don't know: it's what they DO know that ain't so." - Will Rogers)
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To: stayathomemom
No matter his origin, he will have both political and religious powers behind him. A worldwide calamity will focus on him to guide the world through it. I would presume (that's a weak position) that the United Nations may figure prominently in promoting this person to unite the different countries under ONE government, one currency and one religion. It will seem like the logical thing to do to the unsuspecting.
132 posted on 03/07/2015 9:13:31 AM PST by BipolarBob (I may be bi-polar but at least I like myselves.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I was not comparing the Catholic church to the Mormon religion.

I was comparing your postings to how Mormons work, you just posted yet another example of it.

I was hoping you could tell me in simple language, who decides if the Pope is being infallible, and where is the information coming from, that he is delivering to you infallibly?


133 posted on 03/07/2015 9:32:29 AM PST by ansel12 (Palin--Mr President, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke.)
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To: ansel12
#115
134 posted on 03/07/2015 9:36:26 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("The trouble ain't what people don't know: it's what they DO know that ain't so." - Will Rogers)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Yep, your posts are so very Mormon like.


135 posted on 03/07/2015 9:53:43 AM PST by ansel12 (Palin--Mr President, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke.)
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To: Elsie

Thanks, your reply was funny and telling. I always wonder where Freepers find material like what you sent.


136 posted on 03/07/2015 8:41:17 PM PST by pleasenotcalifornia
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To: PieterCasparzen

Thank you. Your post was very interesting and helpful. It is always nice to learn something new,


137 posted on 03/07/2015 8:43:55 PM PST by pleasenotcalifornia
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To: tophat9000

Wow! What a story about putting faith and God first in your life.


138 posted on 03/07/2015 8:47:31 PM PST by pleasenotcalifornia
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To: CynicalBear

I did not miss them; I ignored them.

I was keying on the actual word ‘anti-christ’.


139 posted on 03/08/2015 12:11:05 PM PDT by Elsie
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To: pleasenotcalifornia
I always wonder where Freepers find material like what you sent.

I've used the Look! Over there! theme a lot on FR; when a poster tries to distract their favorite ox from being gored yet again.

I did not know that this image was a mover until I posted it; as Google® merely showed the girls poing in different directions.


https://www.google.com/search?q=Look!+Over+there&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&rlz=1I7ADRA_enUS475&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=IaD8VOGfO4iqNoLLgkg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=549#imgdii=_&imgrc=WKZahdVvS1qdFM%253A%3B5r2Ud1wEKV4GkM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffc02.deviantart.net%252Ffs50%252Ff%252F2009%252F303%252F6%252F3%252FFF8__Look_over_there_by_m00nf1sh.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.freerepublic.com%252Ffocus%252Freligion%252F3264136%252Fposts%253Fpage%253D137%3B600%3B399



140 posted on 03/08/2015 12:20:28 PM PDT by Elsie
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