The Pope? A Vicar Of Christ? Catholics respond. :)

[ActRaiser]

I know that I'm only inviting trouble if I open a thread with too many personal opinions, so I'll just ask yours. Off-Topicers, what are your opinions of the Popes being "The Vicar of Christ?"

I myself, believe a Pope can be 'a" vicar of Christ, in some round about ways, but I'm curious, what are some of the Catholic beliefs on this?

[pfroggy1]

I was raised in a pretty Catholic family (no I'm not Italian, but my great aunt is...). Anyway from my knowledge of church history, I've learned we've had amazing popes and poopy popes. I think that being a vicar of Christ is earned, not immediately known. Normally if they come off as a nice cool dude people will like them and he's a vicar, but say you were a loon pope then people wouldn't say they were a vicar.

In short I believe the pope has to EARN the right to be called a vicar of Christ.

PS. Your a Protestant and your asking we Catholics to respond. That's kinda funny because I asked a Lutheran Spanish Teacher at my school if the pope rumor was true.

[Valcherion]

According to doctrine/dogma? Yes, he is - basically where the dogma of papal infallibility comes from, from what I know.

[Seraphim Knight]

Not Catholic myself, but I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I will have to say that this pope's decision/decree that pro-choice advocates are not allowed to take communion...is pretty damn awesome.

Stamp of approval in my book.
*pbff!!* (<---stamp sound)

[Hellis]

SO you are saying that a form of discrimination is a good thing, that going back to the kind of mindset we had in the middle ages is a good decision?

[Christiefries]

Not Catholic myself, but I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I will have to say that this pope's decision/decree that pro-choice advocates are not allowed to take communion...is pretty damn awesome.

Stamp of approval in my book.
*pbff!!* (<---stamp sound)

I am not Catholic either, but to look at it objectively... He is indeed doing what a Catholic person should do. Upholding the beliefs of the Scripture they hold so dearly.

This site explains very well, with Bible verses, why they should be against abortion. If you don't want to read the whole thing, here's some snippets:

This sin of child-sacrifice, in fact, is mentioned as one of the major reasons that the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians and the people taken into exile. "They mutilated their sons and daughters by fire…till the Lord, in his great anger against Israel, put them away out of his sight" (2 Kings 17:17-18).

God says through Isaiah, "Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings…Your festivals I detest…When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean…learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow" (Isaiah 1:13-17).

Indeed, those who worship God but support abortion are falling into the same contradiction as God’s people of old, and need to hear the same message.

When it comes to human dignity, Christ erases distinctions. St. Paul declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

We can likewise say, "There is neither born nor unborn." Using this distinction as a basis for the value of life or the protection one deserves is meaningless and offensive to all that Scripture teaches. The unborn are the segment of our society which is most neglected and discriminated against. Christ Himself surely has a special love for them.

[Hellis]

God says through Isaiah, "Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings…Your festivals I detest…When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean…learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow" (Isaiah 1:13-17).

Indeed, those who worship God but support abortion are falling into the same contradiction as God’s people of old, and need to hear the same message.

I am not gonna go into the whole aborion issue, but that site does take some sever liberties with texts. orphans do not equate fetus. That is some reaching right there.

...

As a matter of fact, there are plenty of better alternatives in there that would illustrate the point better. Like the know about everyone being gods child from the moment you are formed in the womb. That one is pretty crystal if you choose to be Catholic. That said I do not approve of humans following a book written by men talking about womens rights. Nor do I like the concept of one of the worlds mightiest people condemning people for supporting women rights such as abortion. It is a step back in civilization.

[Christiefries]

Not meaning to discuss abortion, but that is how they interpret the Scripture amongst whatever other things they believe it explicitly says. All in all, a Catholic leader is going to uphold Catholic beliefs to Catholic people who claim to also have these Catholic beliefs. If they do not hold the same beliefs, then perhaps they should associate themselves with a different religion. It is what it is.

[Hellis]

Oh no. I understand that, I do. It is the essence of religion, wich essentially is based on old political agendas. There is myriad of things that they do chose to ignore or women would be set back to inferiority status if they followed the bible more closely, wich of course is terribly wrong.


On the actual subject thou. The pope is I believe, widely considered to be the Vicar of Christ amongst Catholics.

[Archaos]

Damn, Jerry. Just when I start forgetting that you're super DUPER Christian...