So many Episcopalians believe - in a quite uncritical manner - the old anti-Catholic, Know-Nothing rants about the Vatican, the Magisterium, and the Pope. The fact that the Catholic Church dares to have infallible teachings is seen by so many otherwise reasonable Episcopalians as reason enough to reject it outright with no further investigation into the matter. All I can say in response to that is that ECUSA now has a "magisterium" of it's own. It’s called the General Convention, and you better do as this “magisterium” tells you to or the penalties will be quite high. Just ask any orthodox priest who has been inhibited by one of these revisionist bishops.
And this “magisterium” is issuing infallible teachings on such matters as Holy Matrimony in ways that no Pope or curial official would ever even begin to consider. Why? Because the Pope does not have the authority to alter Holy Matrimony. Holy Matrimony was “...established by God in creation…Our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people." (1979 BCP - THE CELEBRATION AND BLESSING OF A MARRIAGE)
And what are the purposes of Holy Matrimony? Again, the Book of Common Prayer states it well..."The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children, and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord."
If all this sounds familiar it is b/c this has been, and still is, the teaching with regard to marriage for 99% of the world Christians - Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, and any and all variants thereof. Only the enlightened “magisterium” of ECUSA feels they have some sort of divine right to change it. This assumes an “authority” that no Pope has ever assumed for himself. Ever.
There is a tendency to treat infallible statements as legislation when they are proclamations. Furthermore, in a modern legislature, laws are made-up devises. In the old days, they were generally codification of custom or restatement of old law. Before there were legislatures, it was the function of the king to proclain what had been recognized as law "since time immemorable." That is what the pope does.
Re your #33: excellent post, and excellent point.