Comments on: The Pope’s Tweets Are Official Church Doctrine

By: Thomas Buffer

Thomas Buffer — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:38:19 +0000

There is a fundamental misunderstanding here.
The word “magisterium” means church teaching in general.
But then you quote a section of a document of the Second Vatican Council which talks about an extraordinary exercise of the church’s teaching authority; namely, an infallible definition specifically about a question of faith or morals.
Everything a pope writes, his speeches, homilies, public discourses to various groups, is called part of his magisterium or “teaching”, but when he wants to define a doctrinal or moral teaching in a binding way, he won’t do it via Twitter. The article contains a very basic error of fact and it is disturbing to see it presented under the heading of “Smart News.”
(I have studied Theology)

By: Rose Eveleth

Rose Eveleth — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:40:21 +0000

Hi Ryan,

Right, so the pope has to define which statements are teachings. But they have said, explicitly, that these Tweets will be just that, so I thought it was relevant to quote that section. The New York Times says “Asked whether the pope’s posts would be infallible, Msgr. Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, laughed and said they would be part of the church Magisterium.”

Rose

By: Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:08:53 +0000

You’re reading the relevant Constitution incorrectly, despite quoting the relevant section. To speak ‘ex cathedra’ the Pope has to say “I, as Bishop of Rome, define…” or words to that effect. This hasn’t really happened much in history, period, and is unlikely to ever happen in a low-context 140-character way.

You really have an obligation to correct this extremely misleading (which is to say, incorrect) post.

By: Spiderbait

Spiderbait — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:18:05 +0000

I should point out that the Protestants and Catholics have long been waging a war against each other. And, seeing as the original stance is Catholicism=Idolatry, I think you may be in the wrong here.

By: Molly Maguire (not "MM" above)

Molly Maguire (not "MM" above) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:56:52 +0000

So… With all due respect… Can I just say that I’m not at all confident that the author of this article actually knows the first thing about Catholicism. I don’t mean to be glib — but… seriously? spend a little time researching the terms “ex cathedra,” “magisterium” (with an “i”), as a start?

By: MM

MM — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:32:58 +0000

@Stephen As a protestant myself, I am appalled at how many of my bent know absolutely nothing about the workings of the Catholic church. Do I agree with Catholicism? No, but I certainly consider Catholics to be Christians.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:12:12 +0000

@Roger Leonard – looks like someone doesn’t know how Catholicism works. There was a college of Cardinals who ordained the Pope. There is official church doctrine spanning centuries which established the Catholic church.

I’m not sure if you’re making a point about religion in general, or don’t like/understand the Catholic Church’s basic tenants. Either way, your comment is laughable, and I feel like I’m feeding a troll.

By: Roger Leonard

Roger Leonard — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:09:15 +0000

The Bible is the ONLY official church doctrine. The pope is an unauthorized figure with no support from Scripture. But people still make their own gods.