How are the teachings decided in the catholic church and by who?

Answer 1

The Pope, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, makes all declarations regarding faith and morals. The holy Spirit protects him from teaching error on matters of faith and morals.

No priest, bishop or cardinal has the authority to contradict the pope in matters of faith and morals.

Answer 2

The teachings in the Catholic church are primarily decided by the Holy Spirit. That's the only reason there even is a bible (yes, Protestants are dependent on the traditional scriptural canons of ancient Catholics, as well as their monks copying these out.)

In practice, the teachings of the church come from what is called the "magisterium," the teaching office of the church. The church has a long history of having held councils that decided on the nature of the faith, as well as learned theologians who've had insight into scripture and philosophy. Faithful to this treasury of knowledge and wisdom, the current Pope and bishops promote what we already believe to be true.

Change in Catholic teaching - if it can really be called that - is always a refinement and/or clarification of what has come before. For instance, it is only in recent times that the church has had to have a teaching on things like bioethics or the rules of the road for automobile drivers. What she pronounces on these things is always based on the ethical and theological knowledge we already have.

Answer 3

By whom?

The teachings of the Catholic church come directly from Christ and the apostles, and they have been faithfully handed down from age to age, by the ordained successors of the original apostles, who are the bishops of the church.

The continuing authority and constant mission of the church was defined by Christ and given to the apostles here:

Mat 28:16 And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Mat 28:17 And seeing him they adored: but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

The Catholic system of safeguarding authentic Christian beliefs and practices predates all new testament scripture. It was developed by the apostles, and first applied at the Council of Jerusalem.

The Catholic system is built on the biblical precedent of two or three witnesses always being necessary to arrive at and safeguard the truth.

Mat 18:16 And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.

In the case of the Catholic church, those three witnesses include 1) all authentic scripture, 2) the official teaching authority (Magisterium) which includes the pope and all the bishops, and which was established by Christ, as shown in the citations from Matthew above, and 3) Tradition ... which includes all the teachings, practices, and beliefs of the church from the earliest days, according to the constant guidance and nuances of the Holy Spirit.

Act 20:28 Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Answer 4

By the Church Magesterium which is the teaching office of the Church.

85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."48

87 Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me",49 the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.

Answer 5

Pastor....Catholics teachings are out of the Bible...but if you were to attend different Church's you see that Difference

Answer 6

By God working through the pastor to deliver a message that directly affects there particular congregational issues.

Answer 7

Some guy named the pope who lives in the Vatican

Answer 8

When there was disagreement on church doctrine, they called councils and voted on it.

Council of Nicea, Council of Trent, etc.

Answer 9

The cardinals make the decisions.

Answer 10

So why is the organisation mentioned in Revelation so close [ in description] to the Catholic church.
(Revelation 17:1-2) And one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying: “Come, I will show you the judgment upon the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, whereas those who inhabit the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

The Catholic church is heavily involved with the 'Kings' of the earth, the political leaders.

(Revelation 17:5) And upon her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.”

the Catholic church is referred to as 'she'

(Revelation 18:9) “And the kings of the earth who committed fornication with her and lived in shameless luxury will weep and beat themselves in grief over her, when they look at the smoke from the burning of her,

(Revelation 18:11) “Also, the traveling merchants of the earth are weeping and mourning over her, because there is no one to buy their full stock anymore,

This is Big business...

(Revelation 18:12-13) a full stock of gold and silver and precious stone and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet; and everything in scented wood and every sort of ivory object and every sort of object out of most precious wood and of copper and of iron and of marble; 13 also cinnamon and Indian spice and incense and perfumed oil and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and horses and coaches and slaves and human souls.

" fine linen, purple and scarlet silk"...

Familiar?

(Revelation 18:16) saying, ‘Too bad, too bad—the great city, clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and richly adorned with gold ornament and precious stone and pearl,

Again...familiar?

No other organisation matches the description in Revelation so closely.

Then the warning!

(Revelation 18:4-5) And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if YOU do not want to share with her in her sins, and if YOU do not want to receive part of her plagues. 5 For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind.

GET OUT OF HER!