ROMAN Catholic: Papal Supremacy (priest, beliefs, hell, attend, doctrine)

[Scott1]

Hello all,

I'm interested to hear from my fellow Catholics your personal beliefs on how important Papal Supremacy is to the faith.

Referring to the doctrine of Papal Supremacy the Catechism notes in paragraph 882, “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." Paragraph 937 states, “"The Pope enjoys, by divine institution, 'supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the care of souls.'”

Now, please... spare me the usual apologetics... it's me, remember: I've read them before!

What I would like is your personal opinion about what would happen to the Catholic Church without Papal Supremacy over everything Christian.

Would the Church crumble and die... would we lapse into heresy... or, God forbid: would we finally reconcile with the East?

In Christ,
S

[Dunemeister]

I know I'm a small-c catholic, so I won't interfere here, but I'd be very grateful if, in the course of this discussion, which I intend to follow with interest, anyone might explain any biblical warrant for investing any single person with "supreme, full, immediate, and universal power over the whole Church." I know the passage about Peter's being the Rock upon which Christ will build his church, but I'm unclear how we get from there to the sort of power described in the cathechism. Or perhaps there are other sources for this view that I'm unaware of. If so, I'd be grateful to be made aware of them.

Anyway, that's enough from me, I won't butt in again.

Respectfully,

D

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

If so, I'd be grateful to be made aware of them.

Well... I did ask them NOT to provide the usual apologetics, but give their opinion on the importance of it to our faith.

If you'd like the "usual":
Apostolic Succession (Fathers*)
The Authority of the Pope Part 1 (Fathers*)
The Authority of the Pope Part 2 (Fathers*)
Origins of Peter as Pope (Fathers*)
Papal Infallibility
Peter and the Papacy
Peter the Rock
Peter's Primacy (Fathers*)
Peter's Roman Residency (Fathers*)
Peter's Successors (Fathers*)
Was Peter in Rome?

[Dunemeister]

Thanks, Scott!

[emiliano]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

I know I'm a small-c catholic, so I won't interfere here, but I'd be very grateful if, in the course of this discussion, which I intend to follow with interest, anyone might explain any biblical warrant for investing any single person with "supreme, full, immediate, and universal power over the whole Church." I know the passage about Peter's being the Rock upon which Christ will build his church, but I'm unclear how we get from there to the sort of power described in the cathechism. Or perhaps there are other sources for this view that I'm unaware of. If so, I'd be grateful to be made aware of them.

Anyway, that's enough from me, I won't butt in again.

Respectfully,

D

I don’t call myself a Catholic this days, but my first religious instructions were on that faith, it was not a very deep one, so this is more an opinion than anything else. I think that they have to invest one man to take this responsibility because the need for order and consistency, the share numbers of their membership demands it. I have attended services in other Churches, some with only a handful of members and noticed that small as they are they have a hierarchy and that they are associated to bigger Churches

[Theocan]

I'm still "considered" a Roman Catholic, I still attend mass in a Catholic Church. However, I believe that a Pope is not really necessary. I dislike the pope now(Benedict, ugh) On the other hand, I thought Pope John Paul, was an incredible Pope the good he did for everyone was amazing. I believe that the Pope should be more used for "peace relations" between religions then supremecy of the church.

[emiliano]

Originally Posted by Theocan

I'm still "considered" a Roman Catholic, I still attend mass in a Catholic Church. However, I believe that a Pope is not really necessary. I dislike the pope now(Benedict, ugh) On the other hand, I thought Pope John Paul, was an incredible Pope the good he did for everyone was amazing. I believe that the Pope should be more used for "peace relations" between religions then supremecy of the church.

In your time in the RCC did you learnt how the Bishops and the Pope are ordained? I also used to be in the RCC, I still attend their services some times and liked the Pope John Paul II, Benedict? He seems to have a different ministry, he has showed great courage so far, acknowledging the priesthood abuses, visiting predominantly Islamic countries, apologising for his past etc. I am told that he is very Augustinian in his thought (I like Augustine’s theological works), The pope is the leader of billions of souls that is involved in a great social work and it is not easy to lead such a huge institution, you right though throughout history they have had holy pope and some very unholy ones as well. But the office of the pope is necessary to have order and stability.