does that make pedophile priests square with God?
2007-09-02 01:34:07 · 3 answers · asked by Brendan G 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
Without getting into whether the current pope covered up priest abuse, which is debatable, ...
The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is infallible at closely defined times.
The Pope is only infallible when he, in union with the body of bishops, solemnly teaches that a doctrine as true. This is called "ex cathedra", literally meaning in Latin "from the chair".
This comes from the words of Jesus to Peter (the first Pope) and the Apostles (the first bishops), "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18) and "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16).
At all other times the Pope can be just as wrong or sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 891: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#891 and http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp
With love in Christ.
2007-09-02 06:28:57 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think that Catholics do not believe that the Pope is infallible. They just believe that he is infallible in terms of Catholic doctrine. This is not a doctrine issue.
Imacatholic put it so much better than I did
2007-09-02 10:05:17 · answer #2 · answered by Tikhacoffee/MisterMoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of us do not believe in papal infallibility, which answers that question.
2007-09-05 20:01:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋