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To: Puzzleman

Went through this with The Episcopal Church, which abandoned the tenets of Christianity and millions of its (former) members. If the Roman Catholic Church stands for less, it will not become larger, it will get small, like TEC. If the RC Church remains firm, it will grow.

The problem now is that Bergoglio is not a.protector of the Church, but a destroyer. A big change needed is to not consider any pope infallible on matters of faith and doctrine, and also a means to remove him in circumstances of significant error, as applies with the squishy Socialist currently occupying the office.


11 posted on 11/27/2016 5:07:11 AM PST by nickedknack
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To: nickedknack
"A big change needed is to not consider any pope infallible on matters of faith and doctrine..."

That would not be a "change," since the Church teaches that most of the time, the Pope's statements are not, per se, infallible even if they are on faith and morals.

In 2005 Pope Benedict XVI remarked, "The Pope is not an oracle; he is infallible in very rare situations, as we know". Pope John XXIII once stated it with a humorous twist: "I am only infallible if I speak infallibly but I shall never do that, so I am not infallible".

Here's what happens (LINK) if a pope tries to make an erroneous statement "as if" infallibly. Go ahead and click it's just 2 minutes, and you'll laugh.

"...and also a means to remove him in circumstances of significant error."

That's where the battle rages. Even well-informed, solid Catholics who see that the Pope has to either recant his errors or be replaced, do not agree on exactly how this could be done.

Some are saying he can't be convicted of formal heresy as defined by Canon Law, precisely because of his apparently carefully crafted ambiguity. An ambiguous statement cannot be binding doctrinally, because as with any law, it has to be clear exactly what is being included, and what is being excluded. Doubtful statements can not bind. On the other hand, this would also (technically) get Pope Francis off the hook for heresy, since doubtful (ambiguous) statement cannot be heretical.

Thus the significance of the Four Cardinals presenting the "Dubia." Pope Francis has to interpret is own words clearly, one way or the other.

k If he won't? Let's see how Card. Burke undertakes to ratchet up the pressure. I would guess he's a chess player: he hasn't stepped out like this without having his next move well-planned.

Pray for the Pope...and for Burke..and for the Church.

15 posted on 11/27/2016 7:51:35 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All.)
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