Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: royalcello
Who in your opinion was the last truly admirable Pope? St. Pius X?

I think you're making a category error here. No pope is expected to be perfect or even prudent or even a "good pope." There can be popes who make wrong-headed decisions on a prudential basis. In fact all of them do so to one extent or another. For example, it would be wrong for you to condemn Pope Pius XI just because of his "condemnation of the French monarchist group Action Française," even if that was a bad, stupid, or counter-productive decision. The real question is, "Are they sincerely striving for the defense and propagation of the Catholic faith, or are they promoting a revolutionary new system of beliefs and practices?" It's the classic distinction between being faithful and being successful. It is essential that the Pope be faithful, even if his pontificate isn't successful.

43 posted on 05/05/2004 8:15:14 AM PDT by Maximilian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies ]


To: Maximilian
Thank you for explaining the distinction. I didn't mean to "condemn" Pius XI for condemning Action Française; rather, I was praising Pius XII for lifting the condemnation.
45 posted on 05/05/2004 8:25:04 AM PDT by royalcello
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson