[Slyfox]

I just returned from a lecture on natural law given by a Jesuit professor. I sorta sat up and took notice when he made two backhanded remarks about this pope. One I will share.

He said that encyclicals have always been vetted and sent to experts for their consideration and edited so that it is a solid piece before it is published and disseminated. But that has not happened in the last four years.

And Francis wonders why there is questioning of his writing and why there is a dubia hanging out there like a huge matzo ball.

[ebb tide]

It’s good to see that there are still a few good Jesuits out there.

[daniel1212]

He said that encyclicals have always been vetted and sent to experts for their consideration and edited so that it is a solid piece before it is published and disseminated. But that has not happened in the last four years. And Francis wonders why there is questioning of his writing and why there is a dubia hanging out there like a huge matzo ball.

Yet according to official (subject to what "official" means) RC teaching, assent to encyclicals is required, and in general to non-infallible papal teaching addressed to the church. Which is both the strength (if unity at any cost is the goal) and the weakness of the RC basis for assurance of Truth and obedience to it.

For rather than the validity of what is taught being subject to by examination in the light of the authoritative basis for it, which Caths criticize evangelicals for doing, while dissident "true RCs do the same (the difference being the supreme deterministic authoritative basis for evangelicals is wholly inspired Scripture), much historical papal teaching is that "the one duty of the multitude is to allow themselves to be led, and, like a docile flock, to follow the Pastors ." - VEHEMENTER NOS, an Encyclical of Pope Pius X promulgated on February 11, 1906.