Would you describe Catholicism as democratic?

Question

If yes is that how a religion should be held? Can the democratic process change the orignal teachings of a religion?

If no, than what would you call it?

This is in relation to how the pope is chosen.

Answer 1

No.

Catholicism is a theocracy. God is in charge.

The cardinals pray for guidence from the Holy Spirit (God) when selecting the next Pope.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The Pope once was chosen 'democratically' by the active Catholic people of Rome when there were few Christians in the early Period of the Roman Persecution. Later the pastors of the churches of Rome and eventually( 11th cent) by college of Cardinals.

A form of democracy in which dogmas and moral teachings could be voted out is totally incompatible with Catholicism or any belief that there really is a Church founded by Christ who is the Way and Truth and Life and the "the Gates of hell will not prevail.'

Many liberal Protestant churches seem to going in the direction of "retiring" the moral teachings and dogmas of the historic Christian faith( Episcopalian Bishop Spong is an example). So, I guess, that i would call that type of religion that can change the original teachings by vote " Radical Liberal Progressivist Protestantism" or maybe "Unitarian-Universalism"

The Church is supposed to be a "Christocracy" and should utilize its systems of "checks and balances" under the Holy Spirit in fidelity to the Bible in Tradition in the Church.

Answer 3

Not possible. Nobody gets elected. The pope is nominated after a secret meeting of the top managers. The parishers have no say in the nomination of a parish priest. The books are never shown. ( I mean money and the real books).
Women are discriminated against. The Vatican was one of the last to abolish slavery. They led the way for Mussolini and Hitler. They were amongst the worst antisemites. The policy is set out in camarillo and is not the result of any democratic process.
Even moderate cardinals refute the idea of democracy on the grounds that God is not a democrat.

Answer 4

No, I don't think it's democratic.

The Pope being chosen by the Cardinals may seem a democratic process. But they can only choose from among other Cardinals and only Cardinals get to vote. All Catholics do not get to vote.So, that's not as democratic as it may appear.

It's a democratic process, but not in the sense of what we've come to think of democracy as. Voting allows for all to know that the chosen Pope was chosen by God and not by man.

Ultimately, Catholicism is not a democratic system. We do not vote for our Pope, or vote for what we believe or what we will or will not allow. Many Catholics do as they please, but this is outside the teachings and tenets of the faith. They know this.

Answer 5

Yuff, I answered one of your other questions. Roman Catholicism as "democratic"? You can't be serious? You can ask any of those homosexual pediphile priests, and even they will admit, the Roman Church is very far from anything dealing with democracy?? I'm a little crazy, but you've got to be totally insane??

Answer 6

Is that "democratic" as in The People's Democratic Republic of China?

You should know that not many people agree on the definition of "democracy."

Answer 7

No the anthisesis
When Catholicism ruled Europe was in the dark ages and dictatorships

Answer 8

No, it is an autocracy, answerable to no one, as they by circular reasoning, hold that according to their interpretation of Mt. 16:13-19, only there interpretation can be right in any conflict.

But the church is founded upon the Rock, that is Christ, who is the subject of Peter's confession. In contrast., the perpetuated Petrine papacy of Rome is not Biblical, nor is equating church tradition to be equal to sacred Tradition (the Bible). nor their exaltation of the Teaching Magisterum as the ultimate authority on earth.

The papacy much flows out of the Roman empire in which the Romans church found herself, and whose carnal means she took upon (thus the Inquisitions), and it is ultimately by autocratic, circular reasoning that she defends herself (according to our interpretation, only our interpretation can be correct). Rome extrapolates a perpetuated Petrine papacy out of Mt. 16:13-19 (even though it's latest Catechism allows the Rock to be Christ, which it is), yet in contrast to other major doctrines, no where do we find any explicit support for such an interpretation, nor any true inference that would establish such.

A thorough search of the rest of the New Testament yields not even one single command for all the churches to submit to Peter as supreme pope, nor one example of him reigning as such (James gives the final decision in Acts 15), nor does Peter, "an apostle" and "a servant", refer to himself as such. And most critically, nowhere is there any provision set down for a successor to Peter. Instead, God is still building His church using men who like Peter, effectually confess faith in the Rock, even Christ, and upon such truth is the church grounded.

Meanwhile, Scripture itself teaches that the Bible is the ultimate authority (Sola Scriptura"), not the church (Sola Ecclecia), which owes it's existence to the Word of God. The Bible only commends one class of revelation as wholly breathed, that being Scripture, which alone is commended as the authority for doctrine, "for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2Tim. 3:16). Making any other authority equal to it is in essence adding to the closed canon of Scripture, and those who do shall end up suffering the punishment foretold therein (Rev. 22:18, 19).

Finally, the ultimate error of Rome is that of fostering dependence upon her supposed powers, as well as one's own merits, for salvation, rather than coming before God as a sinner, destitute of any merit whereby we may escape Hell and gain Heaven, and thus cast all our faith upon Christ and His blood for justification and regeneration (Rm. 3:9 - 5:8; Eph. 1:13; Titus 3:5).

And having turned from sin to Him, be baptized under water (Acts 8:37) and walk in newness of life (Rm. 6). And so glorify God alone!!

See http://www.christiantruth.com/
http://www.aomin.org/Roman.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2594/
http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/papalpresumption.html

Answer 9

lmao.