Can Roman Catholics disagree with the Pope?

Question

With the exception of when he speaks ex cathedra, can Roman Catholics disagree with the Pope on certain issues?

For example, I know many Catholics who use artificial contraception and I know one girl who believes that animals have souls.

Thankyou

No sarcastic comments please!

Answer 1

No, because he's the appointed voice of their god. He's the only one that is 100% right and those that disagree with him are 100% wrong. So I guess it's alright to condone child molestation with your silence, huh?

Answer 2

A Catholic person is free to disagree with the Pope and the Church as long as his/her actions are completely obedient with the Church. Which means he/she can't go off spouting anti-Catholic views and trying to convince other people of them.

In the specific examples that you gave, a Catholic couple who is using artificial contraception for the purpose of having sex without having babies is in a state of mortal sin. They can still go to Mass but they are not supposed to receive the Holy Eucharist until they have repented of their action and changed their ways.

The Catholic who believes that animals have souls is not sinning by holding that belief unless she starts practicing false sacraments on animals (baptizing them, for example, or believing that they are saints in heaven and praying to them).

In either case, these people should be responsible and study the Church's position on these topics with the goal of understanding WHY the Church teaches what she does. It is hoped that thorough understanding will convince them of the validity of the Church's teaching.

Answer 3

Dear Missy,

There are many questions about which Catholics are within their rights to hold a different opinion to one expressed by the Pope.

In general, however, and particularly in matters of faith and morals in which the Pope speaks in his role as teacher and pastor of the Universal Church (ex cathedra or otherwise), and even more particularly in cases in which the teaching in question is consistent with unchanged position of the Church on the question down through the centuries (as is the case with contraception), a well-formed Catholic conscience will consider the the Holy Father's recommendations to be binding.

The Popes have consistently explained to the people of the Church why it is that artificial contraception is a grave offense against God's gift of our sexuality. (You can read more about this in the "Catechism of the Catholic Church", starting at section 2366. http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm

The pull of the world is very strong, however, even upon Catholics, and many of us have struggled over this and other questions. And yet even with these difficulties, there are so many beautiful prayers and scripture verses that help us to remember our priorities. One is from the book of Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15b) This beautiful verse is a great reminder of Joshua's courage in times of great difficulty and hardship, and perhaps might be a source of courage for our brothers and sisters who find Church teachings hard to accept.

A number of Catholics seem to dismiss the Catholic church's teaching on many points. Our God is most merciful, and with utmost patience and gentleness leads most of us along a long, slow journey toward greater fidelity to Him. Please remember in your prayers all Christians who are seeking to increase the love and fidelity with which they seek to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

the pope only claims to speak infallibly at certain times. the last time the pope officially spoke infallibly it was Vatican II.....that was in the 1950s i believe. so, when the pope says something, it is not the world of god unless he announces he is speaking infallibly. <---thats the catholic stance anyway.

i would say you could hold small disagreements with the pope and still call yourself a catholic...but artificial contraception? that is not one of the minor points. if i was your friend, i would just stop saying i was catholic.

that all said, i'm all for contraception and individual thought.

Answer 5

Yes, but it would depend on which issues.

Catholics who disagree with Catholic doctrine are in danger of heresy.

Cafeteria style dining means to pick and choose what food to take from a cafeteria line.

The term "Cafeteria Christians" refers to people who view Christianity like a cafeteria where one picks and chooses only those beliefs that appeal to them and reject a genuine interpretation of Christian doctrine and the teachings of Jesus.

The term "Cafeteria Catholics" is similar. It is used to describe people who dissent from certain teachings of the Catholic Church while maintaining an outward identity as Catholics.

In Los Angeles in 1987, Pope John Paul II said: "It has to be noted that there is a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church's moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the magisterium is totally compatible with being a "good Catholic," and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere."

Heresy is the obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith.

"Cafeteria Catholics" in denial of certain truths are in danger of committing heresy.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Catholics disagree with the Pope all the time, even when he speaks ex cathedra.

Answer 7

The Catholic Church has been and keeps to be a political/company organization, for over one thousand years. lengthy in the past the church grow to be so deeply in debt to the Knights Templar that they joined forces with the King of France, who grow to be additionally deeply in debt to the Knights Templar, and wiped them out. The CAtholic Church dictated social and political rules for hundreds of years. They saved Galileo decrease than domicile arrest for some years. maximum those days, the Catholic Bishops walked into the White domicile and demanded that a budget Care Act no longer incorporate birth control coverage! as a replace of preaching to the flock, ninety 8% of whom use delivery administration, to bypass forth and multiply, they attempt to regulate the lives of all immediately from Washington, D.C.

Answer 8

The Roman Catholic church is a massive world wide and very rich organisation and the pope is the head of this and he is also the head of an independent if small country. The pope is therefore a very powerful world leader and probably could not care less who agrees of disagrees with him

Answer 9

Even in catholic doctrine as you point out the only time he is infallible is speaking ex cathedra. Elsewise he is just a man-men can be wrong.

Answer 10

Catholics that I know (here in America) disagree with church doctrine and the pope.

Answer 11

AS far as animals having souls-there is NO SCRIPTURAL BASIS for that!

Many Catholics belive that priests should be able to get married as well!