"The Christian faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, ARE BOUND BY CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE to follow what the sacred pastors, as representatives of Christ, DECLARE as teachers of the faith or DETERMINE as leaders of the Church." - James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green, Donald E. Heintschel, eds., The Code of Canon Law (Paulist Press, 1985), Canon 212, Section 1.
I am actually glad that you brought up Canon 212 because it, in its entirety, makes the Catholic cans and is counter to the point you are trying to make:
Canon 212
1. The Christian faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound by Christian obedience to follow what the sacred pastors, as representatives of Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or determine as leaders of the Church.
2. The Christian faithful are free to make known their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires to the pastors of the Church.
3. In accord with the knowledge, competence and preeminence which they possess, they have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard for the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration of the common good and dignity of persons.
You got me. I just learned that catholicfaithdefenders.com is considered a “dumpster site”.
Were the first Jewish Christians bound by the agreement reached at the Council of Jerusalem?
Protestants love to remind us that Paul rebuked Peter when he wasn’t living up to what the leaders had determined; that the Gentiles were not bound to being circumcised, and were to be welcomed and afforded the same respect as their Jewish brothers and sisters.
“Obey” is something protestants seem to think is optional.
“He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you, rejects me, and he who rejects me, rejects the One who sent me.”
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”