![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cross-of-Christ.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The pope cannot commit heresy <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I<\/b> HAVE<\/strong> long been avoiding most comments on social media. The reason is that people have become mean, judgmental, flat-out uncharitable \u2014 and often in the name of “defending the truth.” But after our last webcast<\/a>, I attempted to respond to some who accused my colleague Daniel O’Connor and me of “bashing” the Pope. \u00a0<\/p>\n My longtime readers here know that I have repeatedly defended Pope Francis where justice has demanded it (eg. Pope Francis On<\/em><\/a>…). I have paid a price for this \u2014 countless nasty letters accusing me of being blind, stupid, deceived \u2014 you name it. I have absolutely no regrets. As both a son of the Church (and according to a promise we make as members of the Knights of Columbus), I have defended the papacy as warranted. In fact, this writing apostolate spans three pontificates. As of today, I have never to my knowledge judged the heart of our popes, their motives or intentions. Nor when I have addressed the multitude of controversies of this present papacy have I ever denigrated Pope Francis by biting sarcasm, condescendingly referred to him as “Bergoglio”, or insinuated that he intends ill. Moreover, I have defended the legitimacy of his election<\/a> and stressed the need to remain in communion with the Vicar of Christ.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n But like nearly every faithful Catholic I know in public ministry, we are exasperated and exhausted having to explain away, qualify, recontextualize, apologize for, reframe, restate, nuance, and defend the long train of spontaneous remarks, strange interviews, ambiguous remarks, and mind-boggling appointments that have followed this papacy. As one person observed, we’re like those men with shovels and pails who follow the circus elephant, cleaning up its mess. Nonetheless, I have done so because the stakes are high: the witness and credibility of Christ’s Church<\/em>. Save for a few cardinals and bishops, and always the same ones, there is almost complete silence and guidance from the clergy on these and other controversial issues. Ministries like mine have found ourselves having to reassure our readers, walk others from the ledge, and reaffirm the constant teachings of our Faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n …it is not disloyalty, or a lack of Romanita<\/em> to disagree with the details of some of the interviews which were given off-the-cuff. Naturally, if we disagree with the Holy Father, we do so with the deepest respect and humility, conscious that we may need to be corrected. <\/strong>\u00a0\u2014Fr. Tim Finigan, tutor in Sacramental Theology at St John\u2019s Seminary, Wonersh; from\u00a0The Hermeneutic of Community<\/em>, \u201cAssent and Papal Magisterium\u201d,\u00a0October 6th, 2013;<\/span>http:\/\/the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.co.uk<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Catholics are not morally bound to agree with a pope’s opinions on matters outside<\/em> the purview of faith and morals, such as when he takes technical positions on the weather, sports, economics, or medicine. In fact, one may even have a duty to oppose those opinions respectfully and publicly if it is a matter of deflating scandal (see footnote).[1]<\/sup><\/a>According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which [the laity] possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons. \u2014Code of Canon Law<\/em>, Canon 212 \u00a73<\/span><\/span>
\nwhen he speaks ex cathedra<\/em>,
\nthis is a dogma of faith.
\nIn his teaching outside of\u00a0
\nex cathedra statements<\/em>, however,
\nhe can commit doctrinal ambiguities,
\nerrors and even heresies.
\nAnd since the pope is not identical
\nwith the entire Church,
\nthe Church is stronger
\nthan a singular erring or heretical Pope.<\/strong>\u00a0
\n\u2014Bishop Athanasius Schneider
\nSeptember 19th, 2023,\u00a0onepeterfive.com<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h5>\n
On Disagreeing With the Pope<\/h5>\n
\n