Ok, let's say that the Pope dies, and the process of choosing a new one begins. Now, let's say Joe supports Cardinal Bob to be the next Pope, because he totaly dissagrees with Cardinal Frank, the other Papal candidate. Now let's say Frank gets chosen to be the new Pope. Does Joe then have to agree with him, as his teachings are infallible?

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), January 12, 2004

Answers

anti-bush,

You left the Catholic Church before you realy understood the basics about Her.

May God give you the grace to come back home.

-- - (David@excite.com), January 12, 2004.

The pope is only infallible in certain specific situations when speaking on certain topics. We are not bound to, say, agree with John Paul II's views on the war in Iraq.

From the Catholic Answers site at www.catholic.com:

An infallible pronouncement—whether made by the pope alone, by an ecumenical council, or by the constant teaching of the Church’s magisterium through the centuries—usually is made only when some doctrine has been called into question. Most doctrines have never been doubted by the large majority of Catholics. ...

Some ask how popes can be infallible if some of them lived scandalously. This objection of course, illustrates the common confusion between infallibility and impeccability. There is no guarantee that popes won’t sin or give bad example. (The truly remarkable thing is the great degree of sanctity found in the papacy throughout history; the "bad popes" stand out precisely because they are so rare.)

Other people wonder how infallibility could exist if some popes disagreed with others. This, too, shows an inaccurate understanding of infallibility, which applies only to solemn, official teachings on faith and morals, not to disciplinary decisions or even to unofficial comments on faith and morals. A pope’s private theological opinions are not infallible, only what he solemnly defines is considered to be infallible teaching. ...

What infallibility does do is prevent a pope from solemnly and formally teaching as "truth" something that is, in fact, error. It does not help him know what is true, nor does it "inspire" him to teach what is true. He has to learn the truth the way we all do— through study—though, to be sure, he has certain advantages because of his position.

You can read the whole thing at http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

-- AVC (littleflower1976@yahoo.com), January 12, 2004.

The Pope can only speak infallibly about certain teachings on faith and morals, and would never reverse a pre-existing teaching. Think of him more as a custodian of the faith rather than a law maker.

By the way, the Bishops, speaking in unity in a body called the Magistarium proclaims most of the infallible doctrines.

Here are the details, if you are interested. [from EWTN's web site]

1. Catholics are bound to believe everything contained in the Word of God, “whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed” (Professio Fidei I). All that has been set forth in this way is set forth as irreformable, and hence as infallible.

Doctrines are set forth as infallible by the Magisterium (the Pope, and the College of Bishops in communion with the Pope) in three ways:

a) by the Supreme Pontiff speaking ex cathedra,
b) by the College of Bishops gathered in ecumenical council,
c) by the universal and ordinary Magisterium.

Examples: Articles of the Creed, Christological and Marian dogmas, the real and substantial Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the primacy and infallibility of the Pope.

2. Catholics are bound to believe also doctrines definitively proposed by the Magisterium, not as divinely revealed, but as logically or historically connected with doctrines divinely revealed. Doctrines definitively proposed are also irreformable and set forth infallibly in the same three ways.

The assent (theological faith) required of Catholics is the same for doctrines definitively proposed as for doctrines divinely revealed, except that in the latter case it is based on the authority of the Word of God, and in the former case it is based on the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the Magisterium.

Examples: Priestly ordination restricted to men; illicitness of euthanasia, prostitution, fornication, and contraception; that canonized Saints are in heaven.

3. There is a third category of doctrines taught by the ordinary Magisterium, not as revealed or definitive, but as “a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals” (Lumen Gentium 25). To these doctrines the faithful are required to give religious assent, which is not as certain as theological assent, but yet morally obligatory. It is a submission of will and intellect to the teaching authority of the Church as divinely instituted.

Examples: that the Saints in heaven come to the aid of souls in purgatory; that the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church; that original sin consists in the deprivation of grace caused by Adam’s fall.

The above is based on Doctrinal Commentary on the Concluding Formula of Professio Fidei, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1998.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 12, 2004.

David , what has Anti-bush done wrong , the question he asks is a quite normal question !! __ Well , let me ask you , do you have to agree with the president of your country ??

Why not keeping a fair (democratic) election for beeing pope , let ALL catholics choose who they really want as pope !!

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 13, 2004.

Why not keeping a fair (democratic) election for beeing pope , let ALL catholics choose who they really want as pope !!

The purpose of a pope is not to represent all Catholics nor even to represent what all Catholics believe at any one time. The pope is the caretaker of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for the world.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@Hotmail.com), January 13, 2004.

Why not keeping a fair (democratic) election for beeing pope , let ALL catholics choose who they really want as pope !!

i would like to add to that... the president is the servant of the people and is therefore voted for the people.

the pope, however, is the servant of God, and the will of the people holds no sway on the will of God. therefore, the council of Cardinals which selects the pope must open itself to divine inspiration as to which pope is best fit to be the servant of God and God ALONE.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), January 13, 2004.

Laurent LUG,

That would be impossible, to have the pope elected by the people. I am actually working on this for my senior thesis. Basically in no way could it ever happen because of legistical reasons. Who could vote? How would they vote? What about countries where they don't get to elect there own government? What about governments that are hostile to the Church? Who gets to "run" for office? How do they campaign?

Then we have to look at history. Lay investiture was a big problem in the Church. Look at the Medieval period. The problems with the Church stem from to much of a lay influence on its political policies.

Look at the US. It is a country of almost 300,000 people. Out of that 205 million are able to vote. Out of that 156 million are registared voters. And out of that only 51% voted in 2000. Now the Church has a population of more that 3 times that of the US.

The college of Cardinals is the best way to do it. It is pretty representative of all Catholic enthic groups. It is also a bit more apolitical than a national election.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), January 23, 2004.

I would obey the new Pope just as I would my "favorite" Pope.

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), January 23, 2004.

Elect a pope? now there is one for the record. In this day and age it would not be long before he was recalled if he was not politically correct. Thank God for the separation of church and state

-- Richard Rivers (forivers@quik.com), February 01, 2004.