[Stone Mountain]

I see - thanks. So "ex-cathedra" basically refers to Catholic law as written, as opposed to pronouncements from the pope? Is that the kind of thing that gets decided on by those Vatican councils?

If the present Pope doesn't like the death penalty that's his opinion. Until it is made a dogma by an official pronouncement a Catholic can tell him to go take a hike.

I'm not Catholic, so forgive the questions. Isn't there a doctrine of papal infallacy that wouldn't allow this?

[Stone Mountain]

"infallacy " - Sorry, that should be infallibility...

[Capt. Tom]

I'm not Catholic, so forgive the questions. Isn't there a doctrine of papal infallacy that wouldn't allow this?

The Pope is infallable in matters of faith and morals only when he speaks to the whole church, ex cathedra (out of the chair.)

If the Pope tells all Catholics not to vote for Bush because he is a war monger; that is not a matter of faith and morals and a Catholics may very well tell the Pope to butt out of America's business.

But the Churches official teaching on abortion is it is wrong in every case. So if a Catholic disagrees he is a heretic. - tom