It is true (is it not) that foe a general council to be considered "Ścumenical" it must be "recieved" by the majority of Priests, Deacons and Laity?

Does this apply to the Pope's "ex cathedra" satatements?

-- Geoffrey Jones (mr_bozo@lycos.com), July 29, 2002

Answers

Good day, Geoffrey.

For a general council of bishops to be counted among the Ecumenical Councils, it must be ratified, after the fact, by the pope.
It is not true that a ratified council must be "received" by anyone else.

Similarly, a pope's ex cathedra statements need not be "received" or approved by anyone in order for them to be effective and binding. Through a special grace of the Holy Spirit, such statements are preserved from error and require our "divine and Catholic faith."

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 12, 2002.