Why does the pope have power over changing the religious laws that catholics follow?

Question

I just can't understand how in the Catholic religion the pope can say "There is a pergatory" then many years later a diffrent pope will say "Never mind we don't belive that anymore" Who is one man to decide what is right? and why do people believe him? Why don't people just seek the truth out for themselves instead of trusting in a man.

Answer 1

Catholics still believe in Purgatory. It was the proposed concept of Limbo that was thrown out.

+ Limbo +

Limbo was suggested as the place where unbaptized babies went when they died. This idea was never official Church doctrine.

The church now says that it is not sure what happens to unbaptized babies when hey die but she entrusts them to the mercy of God.

+ Purgatory +

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process. Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven. I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

>>>I just can't understand how in the Catholic religion the pope can say "There is a pergatory" then many years later a diffrent pope will say "Never mind we don't belive that anymore" <<<

The Catholic Church has never changed its teaching on purgatory.

The existence of purgatory is, always has been, and always will be a defined doctrine of the Catholic Church.

I don't know where you got the idea that the Church no longer believes in purgatory -- but wherever you got it, I'm afraid you've been badly misinformed.

No Pope can ever change a Church doctrine on a matter of faith or morals.

What a Pope can do -- and what many Popes have done -- is change Church CUSTOMS.

For instance, there was a time when Catholics could not eat meat on Fridays at all. Today, this rule only applies to Fridays during the season of Lent.

Also, there was a time when Mass was always said in Latin -- but now, it can be said in any language.

These two things are examples of Church customs -- they are not teachings on faith or moral matters, so therefore they can be changed.

Answer 3

There has never been a change in the Catholic Doctrine on the teaching of Purgatory. The pope is the visible head of the Catholic Church here on earth, each one in succession, chosen by the Power of the Holy Spirit and the College of Cardinals. The Catholic church believes in the infallibility of the teachings of the Pope ONLY in the matter of faith (doctrine) and morals as guided by the Holy Spirit. He is a man, like any other, prone to personal sin, like every other human being but in matters of teaching on faith and morals, he cannot err. The pope is the visible vicar of Christ on earth, chosen to direct Jesus Church He established upon St. Peter.

Answer 4

First of all, the Doctrine of Purgatory hasn't changed for a thousand years.

The Pope is a person who runs a church made up of people...therefore he's imperfect like the rest of us. And he doesn't make decisions unilaterally....he studies the issues, gets input from thousands of advisers....and prays, meditates, and agonizes over issues. Sometimes he's right...sometimes not.

Imagine an unaffiliated country church with a lone preacher and a congregation of 15. Somebody runs that church...right?

It's the same thing in the Catholic Church but on a larger scale.

(Some churches who used to execute lesbians are now marrying them! Who's right? Only God knows and men and women have to use the Grace given to them by God to try and do what's right.)

Answer 5

The pope is just a man, thats the problem I have with the Catholic Church - God spelled the laws out in the bible, I don't need a guy with a funny hat to tell me what it means this week. Just like confessing to a priest, he can't forgive you no more than I can, confess to Christ - pretty simple.

Answer 6

protestantism is just an extention of catholicism. If you are not some sect of christianity after catholcism disreguard this message I assume you are because many protestants make inane comments about how the catholics are wrong and they are right.

actually most people dont pay attention to what the Pope has to say these days. there are a few that do but they are a small number.

Answer 7

He is the head of the Catholic Church and is a human representative of God.

However, I've never read that ANY Pope said there is no Purgatory. As far as I know, that hasn't changed.

Answer 8

Mostly because the Pope thinks he is (2Thess.2:3-4)God. Why do people confess their sins to him and not God? He can do anything because the people think he's special. Most (Matt.7:13)people don't know that the Bible talks about him alot in a bad way. Most don't even read their Bible and if they do, they twist it out of context(Rom.10:3).

Look how the Catholic Church tried to change God's Law; don't people follow on Sunday?
(Dan.7:25 tells us "he will think to change laws and times")
Evidence: (Catholics know when the seventh day is)
"1. Is Saturday the 7th day occording to the Bible & the 10 Commandments.
"I answer yes.
"2. Is Sunday the first day of the week & did the Church change the 7th day--Saturday---for Sunday, the 1st. day:
"I answer yes.
"3. Did Christ change the day
"I anser no! Faithfully yours,
"J. Card. Gibbons"
--Gibbon's Autograph letter.
"Ques.--Which is the Sabbath day?
"Ans.--Saturday is the Sabbath day.
"Ques.--Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
"Ans.--We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."--Peter Geiermann, The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1946 ed.), p.50. Geiermann received the "apostolic blessing" of Pope Pius x on his labors, Jan.25,1910.
Bible Readings pg.194.

"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act...And the act is a Mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." ---H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons.
Note: Rev.13:2 = "...and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

"NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE IT IS STATED THAT WORSHIP SHOULD BE CHANGED FROM SATURDAY TO SUNDAY. THE FACT IS THAT THE CHURCH WAS IN EXISTENCE FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES BEFORE THE BIBLE WAS GIVEN TO THE WORLD. THE CHURCH MADE THE BIBLE, THE BIBLE DID NOT MAKE THE CHURCH.
"NOW THE CHURCH...INSTITUTED, BY GOD'S AUTHORITY, SUNDAY AS THE DAY OF WORSHIP. THIS SAME CHURCH, BY THE SAME DIVINE AUTHORITY, TAUGHT THE DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY LONG BEFORE THE BIBLE WAS MADE. WE HAVE, THEREFORE, THE SAME AUTHORITY FOR PURGATORY AS WE HAVE FOR SUNDAY."--MARTIN J. SCOTT, THINGS CATHOLICS ARE ASKED ABOUT(1927 ED.), P.136.
BIBLE READINGS, PG.194.


Most people have followed the church; look what Rev.13:1 says "...and all the world wondered after the beast." What does this mean; will if you seen every domination---they follow the Catholic's teachings which are false(Dan.8:12). This is the image of the Beast. This is what God tells his people that are in 1st Babylon and 2nd Babylon in Rev.18:4 "...Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye not receive her plagues."

For example:

CATHOLIC CHURCH--
Trinity, Going to heaven, Rapture, Jesus's Death Friday and Resurrection Sunday, Worship Sunday, Pagan Feast Days and etc.

SUNDAY CHURCHES--
Follow the same beliefs.

SDA(Seventh Day Adventists)--
Trinity, Going to Heaven, Pagan Feast Days, Jesus's Death Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

OTHER SABBATH CHURCHES--
One or more of the Catholic Doctrines.

JEHOVAH WITNESSES--
Jesus's Death Friday and Resurrection Sunday

I only know one church that isn't following the Catholic Church and that is The Living Church of God.(Eph.5:27; Acts 20:28).
http://lcg.org

Answer 9

That's a very good question. It just shows the supremacy of Earthly gods over the Divine God. People should think over their convictions. Pope should not be treated as a god. Only the Divine God can forgive our sins, not a human being.

Answer 10

because the pope is the head of the catholic church and recognised by catholics as god's representative on earth

why people believe in god or even become catholics is beyond me though ...