Would God permit a bad pope?

LifeSite News ^ | February 28, 2019 | Peter Kwasniewski

[Jaded]

And Saul.

He gave us what we clamoured for. Brings to mind “you reap what you sow.”

[Tell It Right]

Scripture alone is the source of truth about God, not tradition.

Faith alone is what saves us, not our status in the church or, family heritage, etc.

We're saved by grace alone, not by works.

God alone should get glory and worship, not our fellow man.

If you think about it, these shouldn't be sticky issues. And I, a Protestant, am taking up for the Catholic church by saying they can reform themselves today by embracing what they used to embrace.

[moovova]

Yes.

Sometimes, two at a time.

Wasn’t there even a three-fer?

[Leaning Right]

> Because you [the Catholic Church] are the biggest, doesn’t mean that you are “true.” <

To which I’d add: And neither does being the first church make you “true”.

I would say that the original Catholic Church was true. But they lost their way hundreds of years ago. And so new denominations rose up to fill the void.

[wildcard_redneck]

Yes, God would allow a bad Pope because man has free will.

[golux]

"Interpret ye as ye may things that will be written hundreds of years hence. Fifteen hundred years or so from now, a man will come forth by the name of Luther. He will espouse the killing of Jews and a Great New Religion, from which many other new religions will spring. Choose ye as ye may from among these..."

I suppose the issue is that Jesus never to my knowledge said that, although maybe it could be inserted into a newer version of the new testament.

[amorphous]

Yep

[SaxxonWoods]

A bad Pope is a cakewalk compared to the Inquisition.

[smvoice]

Just like God permitted Judas. And will permit the antichrist and the FALSE PROPHET. Once again, the FALSE PROPHET.

[Ingtar]

II Thessalonians

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The Socialists, Communists, and reprobates seem to be taking great pleasure in unrighteousness now.

[Sacajaweau]

It won’t be the first time. This Pope is just plain ignorant....and apparently never got too involved in the bible. It’s almost as if he wants to get kicked to the curb.

[Campion]

God permitted King Herod, didn't he?

More to the point, God permitted Caiaphas.

[stockpirate]

Dumb question.....

He is a terrible Pope....so yes

[grania]

That’s a weird comment. If God’s even in charge of the Church, would he have permitted its hierarchy to be so obscenely immoral?

[Campion]

Scripture alone is the source of truth about God, not tradition.

Where in Scripture does it tell you what books belong in Scripture?

Calvin answered this by saying that the "spiritual man" would just know, but that's setting up an authority other than Scripture. There is in fact no way to know except from the Church.

Since your first claim fails, your other "non-sticky" issues aren't worth addressing.

[amorphous]

I was thinking along the lines of the end of an age and the start of a new one. The time of the Gentiles is prophesied to end at some point. Also in my mind is the prophesy of Saint Malachy, whom many view the current Pope fulfilling.

[Boogieman]

“John XII became the first (and only) teenager to be elected pope; he was 18 at the time”

Could have made a good 50s exploitation movie... “Confessions Of A Teenage Pope”

[Old Yeller]

God has permitted a lot more horrific things than a bad pope.

God has permitted a lot more horrific popes. Read history. Not revised Catholic history either.

[Old Yeller]

The Catholic Church began in the 3rd century by Constantine as a state sponsored religion.

[Old Yeller]

Because you are the biggest, doesn’t mean that you are “true.”

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14