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"..I just have a problem with the whole swearing allegiance to the Pope thing. The Cardinals should be swearing to God.."

I am not as conversant with the catechism as I should be, but I will take a stab. We Catholics believe that the pope is Christ's Vicar on earth, the spiritual leader of the universal church, which in turn is the Bride of Christ. A sinner like us all, the pontiff is nevertheless the elect of the Holy Spirit, and as such is deserving of our respect and honor.

As such, we accept and obey the office of the pope's conclusions on matters of dogma when spoken ex cathedra in the form of encyclicals and papal bulls. This represents a fealty to the office of the papacy and the universal church which it heads, not an allegiance to a man per se.

I'm not certain what line of thought you are following with regard to ecclesiastical officials and bishop members of the College of Cardinals. It may be a variation of the "catholics worship Mary and the Saints" canard. I don't know.

Anyway, the cardinals are subordinate to the pontiff in matters of church governance. Like every Catholic, the cardinals are obligated to uphold Catholic orthodoxy as expounded by the office of the pope. This is not a matter of swearing allegiance to a man. Plain and simple, the church is hierarchical and not a democracy. This is how the Catholic church differs from the Protestant denominations. On matters of faith and dogma, we follow the teachings of the church (the Magisterium), derived from scripture, revelation and 2,000 years of study and consideration. We may only apply individual conscience on matters that do not directly conflict with church teachings.

Some find this a difficult hurdle to leap. Those of us who do not simply view it as the price of orthodoxy. It can be a big pill to swallow, but the rewards are incredibly rich.

we accept and obey the office of the pope's conclusions on matters of dogma when spoken ex cathedra in the form of encyclicals and papal bulls.

As one who is 5/8 Irish Catholic by ancestry, and who has studied Irish history, I have to ask: What do you think of the Papal Bull of Adrian the 4th (the only English pope), which authorized the English conquest of Ireland?

First, thank you for you answer. I am trying very hard to understand and ask questions without seeming to be critical.

I have been to several masses and other Catholic functions. I have spoken to a couple of priests in passing conversation but am wanting an opinion of a non-clergy, but church-educated member.

One other question, how do you explain the apparent worship of Saints or the Virgin Mary as equals to God and Christ as not a sacrilage. The Bible says worship no other gods before me. It just appears to me that you ( the church ) are placing these humans on a diety level. Again what I ( others ) perceive as worship may not be. This is just one other question I have pondered, but have not asked a church official, I guess because I did not want to start an argument or offend.

"I'm not certain what line of thought you are following with regard to ecclesiastical officials and bishop members of the College of Cardinals. It may be a variation of the "catholics worship Mary and the Saints" canard. I don't know."

I heard that all the Cardinals had to line up and swear allegiance to him before his first mass. Of course I picture a King Arthur thing kissing of the ring and all...