This is a totally hypothetical, theoretical question. Feel free to answer it from a secular point of view, since I know one answer could simply be that God would not allow a Pope to do these things so it just wouldn't happen.
What if a few years from now a Pope was elected and he changed his mind on a bunch of issues, became more liberal, or claimed to have divine revelations.
And suppose this new Pope suddenly said that women should be ordained, amd priests could marry, among other changes that once seemed unthinkable.
What would happen?
Would it be within the Pope's authority to make these changes?
2007-12-30 14:48:58 · 12 answers · asked by Zezo Zeze Zadfrack 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
basically, I am hearing that the answer to this question is YES
2007-12-30 15:04:59 · update #1
Theoretically, the Pope can make any changes in the Church that he wants.
The Catholic Church teaches:
The Catholic Church teaches that when Christ placed Peter at the head of the Twelve, the first bishops.
The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.
The Pope, Peter's successor, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.
For the Pope, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.
The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.
However, if the Pope started doing crazy things, he could be declared mentally incapacitated and removed from office.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 880-882: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#880
With love in Christ.
2007-12-30 17:28:21 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible does not even point out nor justify a Pope. however the RCC has been attempting to alter the Bible to greater healthy their suggestions as a results of fact the fourth century. whilst a Pope can order a transformation in a translation of the Bible, he will by no skill exchange God's be conscious. Jehovah God needs us to comprehend him and he's lots greater efficient than the Pope whilst it comprises getting his will completed.
2016-10-10 16:40:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No pope of sane mind would blantantly go against what is forbidden in the bible with exceptions..e.g eating pork is not allowed in the OT yet it explains why is now allowed in the NT. The pope on His own cannot change Church Teaching or Traditions.
Edit: well i guess im wrong...ill go with imacatholic and dougs answer as they obviously know something i dont
2007-12-30 15:04:25 · answer #3 · answered by iluvtaro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends.
Women becoming priests - No, not possible for a Pope to change the matter of a sacrament.
Celebacy of Latin Rite priests - yes, this could be changed, in fact it has only been a discipline for about 1,000 years.
2007-12-30 15:44:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pope contradicting another pope or the Scriptures?? Unheard of!! (sacrcasm off)
2007-12-30 14:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sorry the Vatican library is closed for urgent repairs to dig for better answers.
2007-12-31 01:22:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Pope can do whatever he chooses to do.
If God doesn't like it, he can always fire him.
As for mainstream Catholics ... they are called to discern the truth, no matter who teaches what ... based on the superb and complete body of Catholic theology and scholarship that goes back to the very beginnings of the church.
When you have 2000 years of authentic church history and tradition to guide you ... which includes all the authentic scriptures ... it's very, very tough for anybody to lead you astray ... even a Pope.
And while some think that Catholics blindly follow everything the Pope decrees, it doesn't work that way at all.
Most dogma is defined by means of church councils ... (around 20 of them) where all of the bishops ... in union with the pope ... get together to officially clarify things.
By comparison, the Pope has spoken infallibly (Ex-Cathedra) only twice.
There's also a huge difference between the issues of priests marrying and women becoming priests.
The first one is simply a discipline, which can be revised.
The second one would be a radical departure from all previous norms, and would be highly unlikely, for this and a host of other reasons.
2007-12-30 20:50:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, priests used to be able to marry. Meat used to be able to be eaten on Fridays. Mass used to only be in Latin...
2007-12-30 14:59:58 · answer #8 · answered by Hate the liars and the Lies 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to the doctrine of infallibility, the Holy Spirit wouldn't let it happen.
Also, i think(but i'm not sure) that an ecumenical council could overrule it.
lost.eu/21618
2007-12-30 14:55:22 · answer #9 · answered by Quailman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It can happen and it has happened. Just look at the church 1000 years ago, do they still burn witches? No.
2007-12-30 14:55:11 · answer #10 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋