[thefrankbaum]

John Paul II, Padre Pio, and various Catholic FReepers are all entitled to their opinions on this issue - as are the many Catholics who do not see a need to define it currently. The Church (specifically, the Magisterium) has not spoken on the issue, and it is actually open to debate within the Church. No one is or is not adhering to Catholic dogma on the issue because no such dogma exists!

JPII can teach privately as the Bishop of Rome, or he can teach authoritatively ex cathedra with the authority of Peter. It has been made very clear by the Vatican he was not teaching or arguing ex cathedra.

[1000 silverlings]

The only reason it isn’t dogma is that the Greek Orthodox won’t accept it and that throws a monkeywrench into plans to fully unite with them one day.