"The Pope is the supreme judge in the Church and only God may judge him."
- Can. 1404 commentary.
It's always good to do that... go to the sources - instead of Catholic social media.
With all the controversy regarding the Holy Father and the unprecedented criticism against him, I decided to study my Catechism, and I even studied a few significant canons from Canon Law, just to help get my balance after reading crazy Catholic social media stuff.
For example.
The episcopal college and its head, the Pope
880 When Christ instituted the Twelve, "he constituted [them] in the form of a college or permanent assembly, at the head of which he placed Peter, chosen from among them."398 Just as "by the Lord's institution, St. Peter and the rest of the apostles constitute a single apostolic college, so in like fashion the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are related with and united to one another."399881 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.400 "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head."401 This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.
882 The Pope, Bishop of Rome and 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."402 "For the Roman Pontiff, 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."403883 "The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, as its head." As such, this college has "supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff."404884 "The college of bishops exercises power over the universal Church in a solemn manner in an ecumenical council."405 But "there never is an ecumenical council which is not confirmed or at least recognized as such by Peter's successor."406
A few significant points from Canon Law.
Can. 332 §1. The Roman Pontiff obtains full and supreme power in the Church by his acceptance of legitimate election together with episcopal consecration. Therefore, a person elected to the supreme pontificate who is marked with episcopal character obtains this power from the moment of acceptance. If the person elected lacks episcopal character, however, he is to be ordained a bishop immediately.
Can. 333 §3. No appeal or recourse is permitted against a sentence or decree of the Roman Pontiff.
Can. 1404 The First See is judged by no one. - Source
"The Roman Pontiff, to whom the words prima sedes apply, cannot be judged on earth by any human power. The Pope is the supreme judge in the Church and only God may judge him."
Got problems with the Pope? Take it up with God.
Just avoid sins against the faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines these three sins against the faith in this way:
2089 Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it.
"Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same;
apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith;
schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him." [Code of Canon Law c.751] - Source
Though I'm feeling verklempt, I must say that canons 333 and 1404 are inadequate and we know this from history and by looking at the rich poor divide in South America. That divide comes largely from a 15th century Pope who turbo charged both the slavery in South America and the rich poor divide in the 1455 document, Romanus Pontifex where he is giving Portugal the right to enslave and rob any unbelievers that resist the gospel:
ReplyDeletePope Nicholas V
Romanus Pontifex 1455 A.D.
"We [therefore] weighing all and singular the premises with due meditation, and noting that since we had formerly by other letters of ours granted among other things free and ample faculty to the aforesaid King Alfonso -- to invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ wheresoever placed, and the kingdoms, dukedoms, principalities, dominions, possessions, and all movable and immovable goods whatsoever held and possessed by them and to reduce their persons to PERPETUAL SLAVERY, and to apply and appropriate to himself and his successors the kingdoms, dukedoms, counties, principalities, dominions, possessions, and goods, and to convert them to his and their use and profit."
1455? They were still on the Julian calendar.
DeleteIf Sr. Lucia can't be trusted on the full release of the 3rd secret and validity of the consecration, why would I trust her on being down with the P-O-P(e)? Vet your sources, Terry.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteThank you so much for this. I love having all the information in one place.
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