[wideawake]

Actually I am interested in why the Catholic Church is both a political system, with its own sovereign state, ambassadors, political leader, etc. and a religious system, with the same leader as its political leader.

The answer is simple.

When the Popes were political subjects instead of sovereigns, the political powers over them tried to force them to follow the dictates of the state.

As the elected monarch of a sovereign state that extends over six city blocks, he is not beholden to any politician.

The only reason I can see is they want both political power and religious power in the world.

When the Papacy was at the absolute zenith of its political and military power in the late Middle Ages, the area controlled by the Pope was slightly smaller than West Virginia - or about 3% of the Catholic world.

All this talk of the "Holy Roman Empire" is quite amusing, since anyone acquainted with the history of Europe knows that the emperors and the popes were in constant conflict with one another - and both were in constant conflict with the King of France.

No society in human history has ever been more politically pluralistic than the Catholic Christendom of the Middle Ages.

[smvoice]

Thanks for the pleasant reply. What actual power/influence did Constantine, as emperor, have over the Church when he converted?

[Quix]

Ain't that cute!
Blathering about
Roman Catholic
Plurality!
.
.
.
Wildly asserting
that the
Roman Catholic
system
is the
MOST
pluralistic
of all
over
all of
history!
.
.
.
Obviously,
The
Daffynitionary
is in use, yet again!
.
.
.
As well as
the talking
out of both sides
of their mouths and fingers!
.
.
.
Obviously, they are pluralistic
EXCEPT WHEN THEY AREN'T!
. . .
Which, we have repeatedly seen
is whenever it's more convenient
for propagandizing with all the
idolatrous, blasphemous blather
from the
Alice in Wonderland School of Theology and Reality Mangling.
.
.
.
it's like their saying that
The Roman Catholic Catechism
is a systematic, homogeneous, unified,
NONCONTRADICTORY
body of dogma and theology!
Cue Mutley.
Sigh.
.
.
.
I was tempted to pass this thread by. I have enjoyed the lack of such distasteful diatribes. However, given the lack of candor on the other side, it seems fitting that some more accurate assertions have fitting air time.

[mas cerveza por favor]

All this talk of the "Holy Roman Empire" is quite amusing, since anyone acquainted with the history of Europe knows that the emperors and the popes were in constant conflict with one another - and both were in constant conflict with the King of France.

No society in human history has ever been more politically pluralistic than the Catholic Christendom of the Middle Ages.

Indeed. It is sad that Euro-Americans are so totally ignorant of their common ancestry. Secularist historians have tried to blacken the highest and freest civilization in all known history as an apologetic for the decadent, Godless modern dystopia.