Again, the pope spoke in favor of feeding tubes as not being artificial life support and should be maintained. Most catholics agreed with him.
Since these are just the pope's opinion, how binding are either of them? Neither was spoken ex cathedra. The catechism deals with both issues, but in generalities and not tailored to the specific cases of the war and Terri Schiavo's unique situation. How binding is that? Where is the magisterium on this and just exactly what constitutes the magisterium?
Catholics are split on many critical issues of our times. The church would have much more influence if there weren't so many dissenters.
One pope says one thing; years later another pope says another thing that disagrees or partially agree with what a former pope said. At different times through history things were permitteddisallowed that are spoken against now, Jews, usury, torture, what constitutes a just war, do you just pick the pope that says what you want him to say?
AC: How do we know you are not an imposter or troll. That screen name is very unusual, and anybody could have chosen it. Whoever you are, I see you just joined up today.
Sinkspur: You are funny. You remind me of a cop calling for backup :-).
Okay - here's your mistake. The judgment on artificial nutrition and hydration was delivered in the course of a Papal Allocution to a conference. Such allocutions constitute an exercise of the Pope's teaching authority, and are routinely published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis. Thus, what Pius XII says is fully applicable: "But if the Supreme Pontiffs in their official documents (Acta) purposely pass judgment on a matter up to that time under dispute, it is obvious that that matter, according to the mind and will of the Pontiffs, cannot be any longer considered a question open to discussion among theologians" (Humani generis §20).
On the other hand, in the case of the Iraq War, I'd note: I have never seen a quote by the Pope which condemned the war. Yes, the Vatican diplomatic policy was opposed to that, but that's not equivalent to official papal teaching published in the AAS which is clearly intended as binding.
I think you are confused-
If you read what JPII ACTUALLY SAID about Iraq, you will not find that he specifically condemned the invasion.
Rather, he spoke in general terms--that 'war is bad'--
In a case such as Iraq, the benefit of the doubt must be given to the civil authorities who have intelligence information which is (presumably) better than that provided to the Pope.
The Pope did not cross that line...