So for all the catholics- Does the church(pope) really have full control of you?

Question

cause what if he decided for everyone to make a pilgrimage to him and then raise his own army to take over the world- would you go- or denounce your catholisism

lok people, calm down. i am a catholic. im just seeing what others think to say. and as for the seventeen year old boy- dont think your so smart. im 19 and im just as much a smart *** as you- but you have to remember that- A fool is wise until he speaks!

Answer 1

OK- you're 19....here's an observation from a 40 year old.

When I was a child, I took everything my parents said absolutely. I never questioned anything.

When I became a teen, I took on the popular 'you aren't the boss of me mentality'....and questioned everything....and didn't much take their advice- I could decide things for myself.

When I became an adult- and a parent- I realized my parents were right about just about everything. They had lived through a lot, made mistakes, seen others make mistakes. They had the benefit of wisdom and experience, and weren't such bad guides, after all.

I see my relationship with the Church the same way. As a child, I did what I was told. As a young adult, I bought into the idea that I could make my own decisions--many of the bad ones.

Now, with the benefite of hindsight, I realize how much pain in my life could have been completely avoided if I had followed the teachings of the Church.

I made my own decisions on many things....and eventually came to relize I was WRONG when those decisions conflicted with Church teaching. Every time and without exception. The Church has always been right and I have always been wrong.

So now, when an issue of faith or morals comes up- I look to the Church first, and form my opinions based on what the Church teaches. After all- the only purpose of the Church is to help us get to Heaven!

Now, the Pope. No, he doesn't 'control' me. I do look to him as my spiritual leader, a man of faith who is an example for me as a Christian. And when he speaks on matters of faith and morals, I obey him as leader of the Church who wants only the best for me.....like any good parent.

Answer 2

I'm Catholic and the Pope's not the boss of me. He's just the Spiritual leader of our Catholic Church. Sort of how a minister runs a single church, or a priest runs a single church, or a shaman priest runs a single tribe, or a Rabbi runs a temple. The Pope is supposed to be God's voice on Earth but it's more of a metaphorical thing. He's like the President of the Catholic Church, not the boss of all of us. The Pope is here to advise us and guide us, we have to choose for ourselves what to do. Many of us don't do the right thing anyway. Most of Europe doesn't even go to church anymore.

Answer 3

Haha, I take it your a protestant, well I am a 17 yr old boy who is planning on becoming a priest. The pope has control over the church and acts as the earthly christ and has complete control over the church on "MATTERS OF FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY" Many protestants have been lied to our misled unintentinaly about the church. The pope isn't a dictator that controls my every move. He is under the influence of the holy spirit, If the spirit influenced him to tell the church that they needed to make a pilgramage to rome. I would do it. But the spirit probably won't. And for me there is no denouncing my catholocism, I would die first. I WOULD DIE FIRST, I swear it. Army to take over the world, sounds like your scared of catholics, hahah we do outnumber protestants by like 200,000,000 so... but the pope doesnt even agree with the war in Iraq, world dominance? I don't think so.

Answer 4

No not at all. the pope is a human being just like everyone else. he can make statements about the way he believes that catholics should act but really for all intents and purposes unless he proclaims them infallible(i forgot what its called at the moment) then it is just a suggestion or a statement of opinion on the values of the church, at least from my understanding, i'm not a catholic scholar or anything

Answer 5

I'd love to see a Catholic army hell-bent on taking over the world. Could you imagine an army led by elderly men in large pointed hats and robes? It would take about one day to squash that. However it's been rumored that a pope in the future will be in league with the Anti-Christ so that might be a little more difficult.

Answer 6

My bf is Catholic...so this is just my impression...

The pope is simply a leader of the faithful...not a commander in cheif. And, he would not do this.... there is no way the catholic community would allow this to happen number one....and if it did, most catholics would break from the church....

Answer 7

there is only one who has full control of me G--

Answer 8

HELL NO!