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76 sats \ 4 replies \ @freetx 7 Oct \ parent \ on: What is the Acts 17 Collective? Why is Peter THiel Speaking About the Antichrist spirituality
Correct, the easiest way to understand the reality of the Popes "infallibility" is "the buck stops here" - that is he exist as the final decision maker on formal questions of doctrine and morals. It does not mean he is inerrant. If the Pope says "the sky is green" it doesn't magically make it so, only that he is the final decision maker on dogmatic issues.
Agree 100%. I think that >95% of all Protestants and Catholics agree on almost everything. It really all comes down to how the argument is framed. I think the classic case is the "Sola Fide" question. I think in actual practice Prots and Caths believe the same from a day to day living perspective (you need to accept Christ and accepting Christ means being a good person). However, the framing of the argument can ignite needless disagreement over semantic issues.
Its a nuanced issue. A local priest, bishop, or even the Pope can opine on any subject. For instance, they may say "We have a duty to welcome all illegal aliens".
Its fine that they say that, it can be a call for reflection. It can even be true that it exhorts Christian virtue. However, a Catholic is not bound to follow every utterance of clergy / popes / etc.
Catholics are only bound by the Catechism (whats officially defined via the Church's Magisterium). Regular public statements, calls to action, etc don't apply.
So in your example if a person is choosing not to follow the Catechism, then he is by definition not Catholic. If he is choosing not to agree with his local Bishop who made a statement against the death penalty, well because thats not a doctrinal statement, he is free to disagree.
NOTE: To clarify something in case its not clear, the Catechism is an actual written document you can reference, kinda like a "constitution". (https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM)
Catholics are only bound by the Catechism (whats officially defined via the Church's Magisterium). Regular public statements, calls to action, etc don't apply.
Yep, this is what I'm referring to. Most non-Romans I have met over my life including pastors don't get this really.
if a person is choosing not to follow the Catechism, then he is by definition not Catholic. If he is choosing not to agree with his local Bishop who made a statement against the death penalty, well because thats not a doctrinal statement, he is free to disagree.
I was thinking more of people that profess to be Catholic and yet support abortion. Or have violated the churches teaching on marriage for example. Or speak openly against teachings in the Catechism.
The problem I have with this line of argument is that all of us non-Romans know people that say they are Christians or members of our church who do the same things. Or will poorly represent the teachings of our church.
It really does come down to theology and perspective and I have been more encouraged by the common ground we share, protestants, Romans, and Eastern Christians. I can see that none of our traditions are without mistakes in our histories but if we believe the words of Jesus we will all be one again. It is the enemy that seeks to divide us that is our true enemy. Not one another. Not saying we should just go along to get along. But I pray for more charity in myself when I disagree with others about our faith.
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I was thinking more of people that profess to be Catholic and yet support abortion. Or have violated the churches teaching on marriage for example. Or speak openly against teachings in the Catechism.
That is very true. A far far more common example is the Catechism mandates that to receive the Eucharist, you must be in "a state of Grace and anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution"
The number of Catholics who line up every Sunday to receive Communion while not in a state of grace....well lets just say the lines would be half as long if that was actually followed.
To be clear, this is something I've been guilty of many times in my life. But as I've gotten older I try to be much more honest with myself before I stand up to get in line.
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The more I learn the more I see the same human failings in all Christian traditions. We need Jesus. We fail. We need community. We are not intended to be islands.
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You are Catholic?
I thought everyone in Texas had to be Baptist lol
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