Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: onedoug
Since you know, why ask, other than to seem self-righteous?

I really don't mean to offend. I have great respect for the Church and believe it to be one of the few, or maybe the only, large organization that advocates for morality in the World. Certainly we Jews have none. (And some of our small organizations advocate immorality!)

But doesn't the Pope begin to get into trouble when he speaks of G-d's Law? You know all the "His yoke is easy and His burden is light," stuff? The "yoke" is what some Jews might consider "G-d's Law." I just wondered what specifically the Pope and/or Catholic Doctrine meant by that phrase.

ML/NJ

20 posted on 09/20/2007 4:58:52 AM PDT by ml/nj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies ]


To: ml/nj; onedoug
I really don't mean to offend. I have great respect for the Church and believe it to be one of the few, or maybe the only, large organization that advocates for morality in the World. Certainly we Jews have none.

No offense taken. Feel free to ping me with any questions; I will do my best to address them, okay?

But doesn't the Pope begin to get into trouble when he speaks of G-d's Law? You know all the "His yoke is easy and His burden is light," stuff? The "yoke" is what some Jews might consider "G-d's Law." I just wondered what specifically the Pope and/or Catholic Doctrine meant by that phrase.

The Magisterium is the living, teaching office of the Church, whose task it is to give an authentic interpretation of the word of God, whether in its written form (Sacred Scripture) or in the form of Tradition. The Magisterium ensures the Church’s fidelity to the teaching of the Apostles in matters of faith and morals. The Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication, and expounds it faithfully.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

This is from the book of the Evangelist Matthew. These verses are peculiar to Matthew and are similar to Ben Sirach's invitation to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sirach 51:23, 26). Who labor and are burdened: burdened by the law as expounded by the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:4).

I hope this addresses your question; if not, I'll try to provide a better response.

28 posted on 09/20/2007 7:03:11 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

To: ml/nj; NYer
But doesn't the Pope begin to get into trouble when he speaks of G-d's Law? You know all the "His yoke is easy and His burden is light," stuff? The "yoke" is what some Jews might consider "G-d's Law." I just wondered what specifically the Pope and/or Catholic Doctrine meant by that phrase.

"God's Law" is not really a formally defined phrase, but I'm pretty sure he means the entirety of revealed religion as given to the Church (including of course the Scriptures, the Liturgy and Sacraments, Tradition, and the Magisterium, as NYer said.)

So the short answer would probably be that Catholics believe God's Law is not a line in a book so much as it is the whole life of the Church.

31 posted on 09/20/2007 8:21:25 AM PDT by Claud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | 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