>> At which point we come to the third argument, which makes an appearance in your letter: You dont understand, youre not a theologian.
You-are-not-a-theologian is surfacing frequently as a tactic among liberals seeking to sway the body of CHRIST from the straight and narrow way.
It affects us your Protestant brethren also.
Similar to the climate change religion asserting that if you are not a climate scientist, your inputs are a priori invalid.
Ignore them and continue to fight the good fight!
A Catholic theologian, even if a bishop or pope ( unless pope ratifying all bisops scattered throughout world or speaking ex cathedra) standing alone is no more than a theology wonk. They can argue among themseleve or with a lay person like Douthat until the end of time without having any authority or say so over Magisterial teachings.
Self importance. Ha.