If Cardinal Bernard Law was elected next Catholic Pope, would he be infallible?
Would he be a good representative of Jesus Christ/St. Paul?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Francis_Law
2007-11-15 02:59:05 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Given that no Pope of Rome is or ever has been infallible, regardless of what heresies and ecclesiological errors the Romanists perpetuate, no, Cardinal Law would not be infallible, any more than any other Pope of Rome has been infallible.
2007-11-15 03:09:52 · answer #1 · answered by Hoosier Daddy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's highly unlikely that any U.S. person would be elected pope, as long as the U.S. is a world power. But even if that wasn't true, I doubt Mahoney has the muster that would earn him enough votes. If for some reason Cardinal Mahoney was elected pope, he would not be automatically infallible in everything he did and said. Like all other popes, the only time a statement of his would be considered infallible would be when he spoke "ex cathedra." This is a great rarity - there hasn't been an "ex cathedra" statement in many decades. Would Mahoney be a good representative of Jesus? Once elected pope, he would be specially endowed by the Holy Spirit to do so, but he's still just a guy, and none of us can tell the future, so who knows.
2016-04-04 02:37:07 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+ Good Popes +
No one can be a "good" pope without help from the Holy Spirit.
Anyone can be a "good" pope with help from the Holy Spirit.
An old saying goes: God does not call the qualified. God qualifies the called.
+ Papal Infalliblity +
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
With love in Christ.
2007-11-15 15:29:27 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Jesus ordained the first Pope, He told him "whatsoever you bind upon earth is bound in heaven", so unless He lied or was mistaken, whoever becomes His next Vicar on earth will be infallible when presenting official teaching binding on the universal Church, just like all the others have been. A pope is not infallible on any other matters. Are you suggesting that God cannot work through sinners? If that were the case He wouldn't work at all.
2007-11-15 03:15:28 · answer #4 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the Holy Spirit would keep Him from teaching error in the matters of faith and morals.
This does not mean that he would be incapable of committing gave sins.
2007-11-15 03:19:42 · answer #5 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
we can not c into the future and we cannot predict our next pope why theres so many that could be selected~~~i do not know the man there for i cannot call judgement upon him ty
2007-11-15 03:03:56 · answer #6 · answered by ladysosureone 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He'd no longer be the Law, though.
2007-11-15 03:01:57 · answer #7 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
only Deke is infallible.
2007-11-15 03:01:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not infallible its (ego) inflatable.
2007-11-15 03:04:52 · answer #9 · answered by Terry M 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He would be a typical Catholic. No less no more.
2007-11-15 03:03:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋