Why Catholicculture.org is a dangerous place on the web

JMJ

Over the years I've grown accustomed to Dr. Mirus' and Mr. Lawler's perspective of Catholicism (read: its annoying and usually pompous). While the content on their site is pretty good, their commentary is not.

Here's an example that caught my eye a couple of days ago:

However, although he favored the Kasper proposal (according to my assumptions) Pope Francis should also have recognized that he could not take such a dramatic step alone. The power of the Roman Pontiff is extraordinary but it is not unlimited. When he teaches with authority, the Pope must speak for, and in union with, the college of bishops. This year’s Synod meeting demonstrated that the world’s bishops are not united behind the Kasper proposal. By pushing the matter, then, the Pope would violate his duty to serve as the focus of unity within the episcopate. (Source)

What we have here is nothing less than a contradiction in theory of the Dogmatic Teaching of the other Vatican Council: #1.

Wherefore we teach and declare that,
- by divine ordinance,
- the Roman church possesses a pre-eminence of ordinary power over every other church, and that
- this jurisdictional power of the Roman pontiff is both
  - episcopal and
  - immediate.
- Both clergy and faithful,
  - of whatever rite and dignity,
  - both singly and collectively,
- are bound to submit to this power by the duty of hierarchical subordination and true obedience, and this
  - not only in matters concerning faith and morals,
  - but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the church throughout the world.
In this way, by unity with the Roman pontiff in communion and in profession of the same faith , the church of Christ becomes one flock under one supreme shepherd [50] .
This is the teaching of the catholic truth, and no one can depart from it without endangering his faith and salvation. (Source)

The problem with Mr. Mirus' assertion is that he has inverted the authority of the Church.

The Pope can speak on his own, without reference to or agreement from the Bishops of the Catholic Church.

A council can say all it wants, but if the Pope didn't convoke the meeting, it isn't ecumenical (in the correct sense). Further, if the Pope doesn't ratify the canons etc of a council, they don't pass into law.

To clear up the confusion that Mr. Mirus' has created:

The Pope can Teach Authoritatively when he wants, he is the Supreme Authority in the Church.
The Bishops cannot Teach Authoritatively when they want, even following Vatican II, they always need the Pope as the Head of the College of Bishops.

P^#

Comments

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+ JMJ I have sometimes been criticized for including 'St' as a title for Pope John Paul II et al. I've given my reasons here in a discussion with Alex Long. The question is one of prudence in discussions with ntCatholics and in some cases with tCatholics. In discussions with: ntCatholics, I will use the title in order to continue the discussion and help them arrive at a realistic understanding of the crisis of the Church. tCatholics, I will use the title in order to broaden their perspective on the doctrine of dogmatic facts. This broader perspective is, in my opinion, essential maintaining a realistic understanding of the crisis of the Church. So from a doctrinal position, I have written the article Dogmatic Fact of Fancy and includes a reference on canonizations. Now, I know the position of the SSPX is that the canonizations are doubtful (see references below) and I also know of at least one non-SSPX theologian who agrees with the level of doubt du...

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