[wintertime]

The Magistrum?

So?...Other than a few **carefully** worded letters what have the “quisling” bishops done? Where is the Pope?

Is this what Jesus would have done? If not, then how can this church be true?

[bdeaner]

Is this what Jesus would have done? If not, then how can this church be true?

Let me ask you this. What do YOU think Jesus would do if he were the Pope? And show me the Scriptures to back up your claims. Then I will give you my answer.

[bdeaner]

You asked about the Magesterium. Here is a definition:

The Magisterium or Teaching Authority of the Church

by Fr. William G. Most

By the Magisterium we mean the teaching office of the Church. It consists of the Pope and Bishops. Christ promised to protect the teaching of the Church : "He who hears you, hears me; he who rejects your rejects me, he who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me" (Luke 10. 16). Now of course the promise of Christ cannot fail: hence when the Church presents some doctrine as definitive or final, it comes under this protection, it cannot be in error; in other words, it is infallible. This is true even if the Church does not use the solemn ceremony of definition. The day to day teaching of the Church throughout the world, when the Bishops are in union with each other and with the Pope, and present something as definitive, this is infallible. (Vatican II, Lumen gentium # 25). It was precisely by the use of that authority that Vatican I was able to define that the Pope alone, when speaking as such and making things definitive, is also infallible. Of course this infallibility covers also teaching on what morality requires, for that is needed for salvation.

A "theologian" who would claim he needs to be able to ignore the Magisterium in order to find the truth is strangely perverse: the teaching of the Magisterium is the prime, God-given means of finding the truth. Nor could he claim academic freedom lets him contradict the Church. In any field of knowledge, academic freedom belongs only to a properly qualified professor teaching in his own field. But one is not properly qualified if he does not use the correct method of working in his field, e.g., a science professor who would want to go back to medieval methods would be laughed off campus, not protected. Now in Catholic theology , the correct method is to study the sources of revelation, but then give the final word to the Church. He who does not follow that method is not a qualified Catholic theologian. Vatican II taught (Dei Verbum # 10): "The task of authoritatively interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on [Scripture or Tradition], has been entrusted exclusively to the living Magisterium of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."

[Desdemona]

Jesus didn't stop his disciples from making mistakes, sinning, denying him, etc. He took a lot of abuse from everyone. The Church is no different and the people within Her are sinners just like everyone else. The pope can't be everywhere. The US is one country on this earth. We tend to forget that.

For hope that the Church is going through yet another of Her purges, just as She has for 2,000 years, look to St. Athanasius who stood alone for truth. It's not nearly that bad now. It's just very sad that so many choose to abandon Her rather than standing up and challenging those who spout heresy.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Is this what Jesus would have done?”

Jesus was perfect. Can you please show me one, just one, other man on this earth who is perfect in all things? If you can’t, then I think you will see the folly of your question.

“If not, then how can this church be true?”

That’s like saying, “Have you ever sinned? Yes? Then gee, I guess you’re not a Christian because Christ never sinned.” Does that make any sense? Nope. Neither does what you’re saying.

I guess you’ll leave your currect sect when the pastor makes a mistake or fails to go as far on a point as you would like, right?