“the Church cannot merely adapt itself to the times “
Sure it can. Every tradition had its day one. Keep at something long enough and it ranks right up there with scripture.
-— Keep at something long enough and it ranks right up there with scripture. -—
Some traditions are man made, such as Sola Scriptura. Others are Apostolic in origin.
“Hold fast to the traditions passed on to you by word of mouth or by letter.”
That is one of several references by St. Paul to Sacred Apostolic Tradition.
You’ll find that the early Christians adhered to Apostolic Tradition, and that the statements of the early popes supported it.
That’s not true.