[Gophack]

Ultima, either you believe that the Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ as His church on earth, and you accept the primacy of Peter and, by extension, the role of the Pope as the Vicar of Christ -- His representative on Earth -- or you don't. If you don't, you are not Catholic.

If you are unhappy with some of the things in the church, does that mean that Christ broke His promise to His church? NO! It means that men are sinners, and our faith is more important than ever.

Offer your frustrations and anger to our Lord, and let the Holy Spirit work. We know why we are suffering -- we are sinners and deserve it. We also know that with repentance and love and faith and perseverence until the end, that we might see the kingdom of Heaven.

Dissing the church and the Vicar of Christ isn't the surest way to Heaven, I would imagine, especially for a Catholic.

God bless you, and I will pray that your anger is dissolved so you may fully appreciate the gifts our Lord has given you through His church.

[ultima ratio]

It's not that simple. Sure I believe the Pope is Christ's vicar on earth, but he is not an absolute monarch and he is infallible only in a very limited area--when he speaks ex cathedra. Vatican I made this abundantly clear. The Holy Spirit does not protect the Pope from error when he acts in ways that go beyond the papal duties of his office--which is specifically intended to guard the deposit of faith.