That’s actually an excellent point. As I understand it, since all Popes are in succession of St. Paul, contradicting church doctrine set by previous Popes can absolutely be done, but something as huge as accepting same-sex marriage as equal with opposite-sex marriage isn’t something that should be done with a simple ex cathedra statement. Isn’t that the kind of high-level doctrine overhaul that Vatican II was about?
That’s what keeps my hope alive about him, really. I’m in the crowd of “not a catholic, but I really like the guy.” It seems like he does the best he can within the constraints he’s got.
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I don’t think this Pope cares overmuch about previous popes’ proclamations - he’s a Franciscan, after all - it’s contradicting the Bible itself that gives him pause.
Yeah, homosexual behavior is officially a sin, they can’t really roll that back without some kind of massive reform to doctrine. The current Catechism refers to homosexual acts as “grave depravity” so it’d basically take a miracle to update that, and since gay marriage would be an official recognition of men joining in a relationship which involved homosexual behavior they’re not likely to move forward there. Though, amazingly, this Pope did say using condoms was acceptable (in very limited circumstances), so maybe they might sort out some legalese to eventually fix their medieval rules.
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The world cult refers to a set of rituals associated with worship.
From the Catholic encyclopeda
… The Catholic cult of the angels is thus thoroughly scriptural. Perhaps the earliest explicit declaration of it is to be found in St. Ambrose’s words: “We should pray to the angels who are given to us as guardians” (De Viduis, ix); (cf. St. Augustine, Reply to Faustus XX.21). An undue cult of angels was reprobated by St. Paul (Colossians 2:18), and that such a tendency long remained in the same district is evidenced by Canon 35 of the Synod of Laodicea.
… In passing to a detailed examination of the Catholic doctrine on this subject of the cult due to the Cross, it will be well to notice the theories of Brock, the Abbé Ansault, le Mortillet, and others who pretend to have discovered that cult among the pagans before the time of Christ. For a demonstration of the purely Christian origin of the Christian devotion the reader is referred to ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CROSS AND CRUCIFIX. See also the works of Harlay, Lafargue, and others cited at the end of this section. With reference, in particular, to the ansated cross of Egypt, Letronne, Raoul-Rochette, and Lajard discuss with much learning the symbolism of that simple hieroglyphic of life, in which the Christians of Egypt seem to have recognized an anticipatory revelation of the Christian Cross, and which they employed in their monuments. According to the text of the Second Council of Nicæa cited above, the cult of the Cross is based upon the same principles as that of relics and images in general, although, to be sure, the True Cross holds the highest place in dignity among all relics. The observation of Petavius (XV, xiii, 1) should be noted here: that this cult must be considered as not belonging to the substance of religion, but as being one of the adiaphora, or things not absolutely necessary to salvation. Indeed, while it is of faith that this cult is useful, lawful, even pious and worthy of praise and of encouragement, and while we are not permitted to speak against it as something pernicious, still it is one of those devotional practices which the church can encourage, or restrain, or stop, according to circumstances. This explains how the veneration of images was forbidden to the Jews by that text of Exodus (20:4 sqq.) which has been so grossly abused by Iconoclasts and Protestants: “Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God,” etc. It also explains the fact that in the first ages of Christianity, when converts from paganism were so numerous, and the impression of idol-worship was so fresh, the Church found it advisable not to permit the development of this cult of images; but later, when that danger had disappeared, when Christian traditions and Christian instinct had gained strength, the cult developed more freely. Again, it should be noted that the cult of images and relics is not that of latria, which is the adoration due to God alone, but is, as the Second Council of Nicæa teaches, a relative veneration paid to the image or relic and referring to that which it represents. Precisely this same doctrine is repeated in Sess. XXV of the Council of Trent: “Images are not to be worshipped because it is believed that some divinity or power resides in them and that they must be worshipped on that account, or because we ought to ask anything of them, or because we should put our trust in them, as was done by the gentiles of old who placed their hope in idols but because the honour which is shown to them is referred to the prototypes which they represent; so that through the images which we kiss, and before which we kneel, we may adore Christ, and venerate the saints, whose resemblances they bear.” (See also IMAGES.)…
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The True Cross
The cult was spread into other countries, perhaps by travelling merchants who honoured him as their patron. As a result of various vicissitudes the doctrinal disputes and the conquest of Egypt by the Arabians under Omar in 641 the sanctuary was neglected and ultimately forgotten. During 1905 Mgr C.M. Kaufmann of Frankfort led an expedition into Egypt which made excavations at Bumma. He found in a vast field of ruins, the grave, the well and thermae, the basilica, the monastery, numerous inscriptions on the walls imploring aid through the intercession of the saint, and thousands of little water pitchers and oil lamps. The rich finds are partly in the Museum of Alexandria and Cairo, and partly in Frankfort and Berlin. The monsignor published an official report of his expedition in 1908, “La découverte des Sanctuaires de Menas dans le désert de Mareotis”. His feast is celebrated on 11 November.
Sometimes, when I read that encyclopedia, I am reminded of these two books
I suppose the pejorative came about from observers looking at new religious movements and thinking that there was nothing besides the cult, nothing that transcended ritual.
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I played both of those! And Snake Pipe Hollow. As I recall, the Block is pinning down a piece of the devil, or something much like that.
True, but I can point that accusation at you as easily as you’re pointing it at me. And since I actually do study theology and the sociology of religion a fair bit, I know that my viewpoint is hardly unique in those fields. (I’ll admit it is probably a minority view, but that doesn’t make it wrong.) And do note that I said functionally in the post you quoted… the appellation of “cult” functions as a discriminator, and it is almost never used in any way other than how I described - except whenever someone is trying to deny that it’s typically used that way.
Most historians I know (as distinct from theologians) characterize Christianity as a late Roman mystery cult that made good. “Mystery cult” is a historical category that includes Mithraism and many others. The Wikipedia article you referenced is pretty good - I’ll quote it too:
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IIRC popes have officially spoken infallibly ex cathedra twice: the second time asserting that Mary died a virgin, with the first time asserting that the pope is infallible when speaking ex cathedra.
Actually he did, at least according to the talking heads on the tv.
Unlike Trump, The Pope has actually won an election.
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“For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.”
Yeah, shees, where does a religious leader get off trying to define the faith they lead. Next they’ll be saying that molesting dogs isn’t part of the Christian faith or something.
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Far more than any alleged ‘liberalism’ or culture of hedonism, that sentiment is the sound of religion bleeding out. Saying that religion is a private matter of conscience, inappropriate for state interference, is one thing. Claiming that it’s a private matter of conscience so who dare challenge your claim to being whatever religion you claim to be?!?! is pretty much as close to the bogey-man of epistemic nihilism as you’ll actually find being implemented in the real world.
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Not only metaphorical, but also spiritual! 
I don’t blame anyone for holding his feet to the fire for that. I personally choose to forgive him for not going whole hog on acceptance - while it’s disappointing, the fact is, he’s a leader, and leaders can change the direction, but they can’t force a revolution. He’s changed the direction. The revolution will have to come when the center is closer to where he is.
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Whereas it’s apparently just fine for former reality TV show host and wannabe politician to question the President’s faith by insisting he’s a secret Muslim.
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When I use the royal ‘we’ I am talking about popular culture and colloquial usage. We are on a web forum, so if you are saying someone was wrong to use a word like cult because their usage does not conform to a definition given in a specific discipline, then you are unfairly applying academic jargon to ordinary language. If someone said they thought their sister had joined a cult, it wouldn’t really matter whether or not the group had hidden sacred texts. Christian and secular sites I can find that give information to try to help people avoid cults identify warning signs that include asking you to give them your money, asking you to cut off contact with your family or friends, and not being allowed to question authority.
Imagine a group that convinces its members to donate most of their possession and cut off contact with the outside. Does the presence or absence of sacred texts have much of an impact on whether you’d be tempted to call them a cult? My point is that in order to have secret texts, you need texts, which means that a single charismatic individual being worshipped and leading his followers to suicide would not be a cult leader if he didn’t write anything down? That doesn’t sound right.
But I’m suspecting I misunderstood. Was this more like a checklist that the more items you check off the more likely it is to be a cult as opposed to a list of required criteria?
As for opaque appointment processes, I don’t think “more or less democratic than the House of Lords” is a useful criterion. If the selection of the pope counts as transparent rather than opaque because the process is known then I’m having a hard time imagining what an opaque process would be. The dictator just picks someone? We know how that process works. The Haruspex looks at the goat entrails and figured out who the new leaders is? We know how that process works. The idea that it is as transparent as the selection of the president is absurd. People argue about whether the electoral college is a good idea, but we know how they are picking the president and have an opportunity to scrutinized their decision. The cardinals could be selecting the pope by mud wrestling or strip poker for all we know, and we have no way of questioning how they arrived at their decision.
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Anyone who references “Two Corinthians” is not a Christian. Since it says “Second Corinthians” on the damn page, he was clearly reading something a staffer looked up for him.
Either that or he thought it was a “Two Corinthians walk into a bar” joke.
Two Corinthians walk into a bar. One sez to the bartender “We’re a couple of gals new in town and looking to have a good time.”
Bartender sez “Wait right here. I know three Johns.”
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Trump not being a Christian is the first reassuring thing I have heard about him.
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Re: trump, reply: Bonus trivia question: which Daniel Silva novel involved Islamist attack on the Vatican/ the pope
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“Keep religion where it belongs - in the hands of politicians!”
He’s doing such a good job of simulating the worst parts of the worst kind of American Christian that it hardly matters that he’s only simulating…
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Did someone say Corinthian?
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CORINTH IS FAMOUS FOR ITS LEATHER!!
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