I don't want to dampen the progress here, Julie, but as I read through your queries I couldn't help but have a very Francis-like (I think) reaction- "This sounds remniscent of the Pharisees' semantical trap they thought would cleverly trick our Lord into betraying Himself," ie. Which is the greatest commandment?
schismatic tone here is quite disturbing. If you don't like the Church, leave it.
There is no such thing as a schismatic tone. There is truth and there is falsehood. The term schism literally means, 'to be cut off'... and that means cut off from the faith, the one true church... not any man, no matter who he may be.
I would be suspect of a canon lawyer who says the things you are proporting. What is his name?
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...or is frighteningly accurate
I am a serene, joyfilled Catholic, clutching my Rosary and my Liber and trying to navigate my little boat in very troubled waters.
PGA
I don't think you understand the definition of schismatic. There is no such thing as schism from a pope. There is only schism from the Church. Popes have been schismatics in the past. In that light, what you say is contradictory.
you are making something very simple and black and white
NEVER been so simple
Popes have been schismatics in the past.
Can. 751 Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.
Schism (from the Greek schisma, rent, division) is, in the language of theology and canon law, the rupture of ecclesiastical union and unity, i.e. either the act by which one of the faithful severs as far as in him lies the ties which bind him to the social organization of the Church and make him a member of the mystical body of Christ, or the state of dissociation or separation which is the result of that act. In this etymological and full meaning the term occurs in the books of the New Testament. By this name St. Paul characterizes and condemns the parties formed in the community of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:12): "I beseech you, brethren", he writes, ". . . that there be no schisms among you; but that you be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment" (ibid., i, 10). The union of the faithful, he says elsewhere, should manifest itself in mutual understanding and convergent action similar to the harmonious co-operation of our members which God hath tempered "that there might be no schism in the body" (1 Corinthians 12:25). Thus understood, schism is a genus which embraces two distinct species: heretical or mixed schism and schism pure and simple. The first has its source in heresy or joined with it, the second, which most theologians designate absolutely as schism, is the rupture of the bond of subordination without an accompanying persistent error, directly opposed to a definite dogma. This distinction was drawn by St. Jerome and St. Augustine. "Between heresy and schism", explains St. Jerome, "there is this difference, that heresy perverts dogma, while schism, by rebellion against the bishop, separates from the Church. Nevertheless there is no schism which does not trump up a heresy to justify its departure from the Church (In Ep. ad Tit., iii, 10). And St. Augustine: "By false doctrines concerning God heretics wound faith, by iniquitous dissensions schismatics deviate from fraternal charity, although they believe what we believe" (On Faith and the Creed 9). But as St. Jerome remarks, practically and historically, heresy and schism nearly always go hand in hand; schism leads almost invariably to denial of the papal primacy.
I should add that the increasingly schismatic tone here is quite disturbing.
I'm just trying to figure out what I'm going to do if, God forbid, I am required someday to jettison some Catholic dogmas in favor of another.
Here's the takeaway from this anonymous priest: he believes, with Cardinal Mueller, that it would be heretical for the pope to allow Communion for the divorced and remarried, but such an event is indeed possible, and the pope the would not be prevented from doing so because it would not be an exercise of the extraordinary magisterium.
PGA,
One shouldn't need an advanced degree or training in theology to know that one was practicing the faith properly. Protestants accept Sola Scriptura, which teaches, in effect, that reading is one's ticket to heaven.
One shouldn't need to ask the question about why what the Pope [might] promote didn't square with our 4th-grade catechesis.
That we have come to such a pass that ordinary Catholics can doubt whether the Pope is teaching or promoting material heresy or even formal heresy is a sign of the diabolical at work, surely, since Catholics are told that we can stand with Peter.
I guess for a national hierarchy to be talking about changing Christ's teaching on divorce is perfectly acceptable . . . but anyone who objects must be immediately warned that the very act of objecting to such a possibility makes them guilty of being schismatic, paranoid, pharisaical, intolerant, uncharitable, unmerciful and reactionary.
One other thing: let's remember the principle of non-contradiction. You can't say I believe in the indissolubility of marriage and then allow divorce by way of fast, easy annulments and/or reception of Communion for the divorced and remarried.
One last thing: Where has the Church ever taught that only bishops and popes are allowed to defend the Faith publicly? Whatever happened to Vatican II's call for the Christifideles to engage in the forum of ideas? Are you seriously going to argue that laypeople can distribute Communion but can't declare the marriage is indissoluble anymore? Are you seriously going to argue that if a cardinal or conference of bishops propose dismantling the Church's teaching on marriage, that a lay person is too stupid and incompetent to open their mouth and state that God's teaching still holds even if bishops and cardinals give it up?
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