tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post2370805848145567164..comments2023-08-21T03:51:17.425-06:00Comments on Enlightened Catholicism: Why I Doubt The Next Pope Will Come From Africacolkochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-64433500258365473202013-02-18T17:33:30.579-07:002013-02-18T17:33:30.579-07:00Thanks! It supports my contention that there'...Thanks! It supports my contention that there's no biblical or theological basis for Cardinals. In which case: what can be done can be undone. The pope should feel a sense of responsibility to the people not the powerful.TheraPhttp://wisdom4nothing.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-39488317970238244392013-02-18T16:14:02.358-07:002013-02-18T16:14:02.358-07:00"In the beginning, the Bishop of Rome was ele..."In the beginning, the Bishop of Rome was elected by the local clergy and laity along with neighboring bishops. In time, this process came under the influence of secular leaders with negative results. Influencing papal elections, powerful lords and kings hoped to manipulate the office of the papacy in order to advance their temporal ambitions. In order to combat the abuses stemming from this lay influence, Nicholas II in 1059 promulgated that only cardinal-bishops would serve as papal electors." -- Nicholas Rademacher, "Pope, Election of," in <i>The Modern Catholic Encylopedia</i>, 653.PrickliestPearnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-85723928251133435332013-02-18T14:55:27.264-07:002013-02-18T14:55:27.264-07:00Priesthood is something conferred in Baptism to al...Priesthood is something conferred in Baptism to all of us. And at the very least the three orders of Deacon, Priest, Bishop have been ascribed to certain Greek terms for roles in the early church. So I'm just wondering about Cardinals and the election of a pope. Priesthood is something conferred in Baptism to all of us.TheraPhttp://wisdom4nothing.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-30235549371603767242013-02-18T13:31:19.957-07:002013-02-18T13:31:19.957-07:00I think I would certainly advise against a butler....I think I would certainly advise against a butler. LOL<br /><br /><br />But seriously, I think an entirely lay staff in the Secretary of State and other select dicasteries might be a good idea since this would pretty much put a damper on career clerics and their backstabbing for higher office.colkochnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-13976911627867118532013-02-18T13:28:24.927-07:002013-02-18T13:28:24.927-07:00IT is tribal, but there are too many close similar...IT is tribal, but there are too many close similarities between very diverse tribes not to take it seriously as an expression of either human spiritual ability or a common spiritual history somewhere back in the dawn of time.colkochnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-62016825635296266542013-02-18T13:25:40.953-07:002013-02-18T13:25:40.953-07:00That's where I would start, admitting the hier...That's where I would start, admitting the hierarchical priesthood is one long add on to a concept that never actually existed in the NT. That of course, would not be tinkering with the scaffolding, but pulling apart the foundation which was placed on top of something else entirely.colkochnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-45086000358863290262013-02-18T10:37:57.371-07:002013-02-18T10:37:57.371-07:00If the official leaders of our church had any inte...If the official leaders of our church had any interest in following the biblical example, cardinals would be the least of their concerns. There is no Christian priesthood in the Bible. There is no distinction between "lay" and "ordained" Christians in the Bible. The only "Holy Father," from New Testament's point of view, was God; there was one teacher, God, and we are ALL students (cf. Matt 23.8-9).<br /><br /><br />That's not to say that the church has to slavishly follow the Bible, and that structural innovations are not permitted. But to attribute these human innovations to God and to insist that they are unchangeable due to their divine origin is a kind of idolatry.PrickliestPearnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-71418733163300844132013-02-18T09:27:28.100-07:002013-02-18T09:27:28.100-07:00I wonder on what basis the Vatican justifies havin...I wonder on what basis the Vatican justifies having Cardinals. I mean, where in scripture do they find a justification?<br /><br /><br />To my mind, the Cardinals, if they had any credibility, would begin by disbanding themselves. And removing the scaffolding of a decrepit Vatican system. <br /><br /><br /><br />Why Cardinals? That's where I'd start!TheraPhttp://wisdom4nothing.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-84730920575935419142013-02-17T17:23:45.577-07:002013-02-17T17:23:45.577-07:00"A Vatican curia which prides itself on it..."A Vatican curia which prides itself on it's European cultural sophistication is unlikely to entertain notions of 'Catholic shamanism'. I should add here that shamanism is distinct in practice and paradigm from Catholic mysticism.<br /><br /><br /><br />Perhaps there really is no such thing as "Catholic shamanism." Perhaps the truth is that shamanism is not catholic at all. It is probably more accurate to say that it is tribal.Fran Schultzhttp://twitter.com/Fran_Schultznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-18161270573561470672013-02-17T14:49:38.076-07:002013-02-17T14:49:38.076-07:00I think the Curia may have to go---they strike me ...I think the Curia may have to go---they strike me as being irreversibly corrupt. And so I agree with you that a new Pope from within that circle just isn’t conceivable. I want a pilgrim pope---I don’t think we need a Vatican---that worked for a world without instant communication and rapid travel. I think the Pope needs a staff, not a bureaucracy.Molly Roachnoreply@blogger.com