I’m curious whether Catholics can disagree with the Pope. I read a lot of posts from Catholics either criticizing the Pope or simply not agreeing.
I have been through my own evolution in my faith and time and time again have realized through many ways how wrong I was and end up agreeing with the Church.
I wonder, if we disagree with any part of the Church teachings or even what Pope Francis says does that mean we have more growing in our faith to do? Does that mean we are not as familiar?
From my husband’s perspective (former Atheist) we (Catholics) don’t seem to be very free when we are told what to think, believe etc.
Thank you any thing will help
Catholics
cannot disagree with Church teachings. Ever.
A Pope’s teachings, however, do not equal Church teaching. Still, a Pope or Bishop’s teachings
do require what is called a submission of the intellect or will
Can. 752 Although not an assent of faith, a religious submission of the intellect and will must be given to a doctrine which the Supreme Pontiff or the college of bishops declares concerning faith or morals when they exercise the authentic magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim it by definitive act; therefore, the Christian faithful are to take care to avoid those things which do not agree with it.
Can. 753 Although the bishops who are in communion with the head and members of the college, whether individually or joined together in conferences of bishops or in particular councils, do not possess infallibility in teaching, they are authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the Christian faithful entrusted to their care; the Christian faithful are bound to adhere with religious submission of mind to the authentic magisterium of their bishops.
If a Pope or Bishop were to teach something contrary to the faith, the faith always supersedes. Of course, this situation is more difficult to perceive than one might initially assume. It is easy to convince oneself that what a Pope or Bishop is saying is against this or that teaching and can therefore be disregarded, at least if one is *looking *for reasons to disagree with the Pope. It is for this very reason that the submission of intellect and will is so important.
Our default position should be to submit to the teaching of our bishop and Pope unless it should prove to be contrary to Sacred Tradition. Too often the opposite has become true, and Catholics feel that they must prove what the Pope or bishop has said before it is to be believed.
This can reveal two ways in which Catholics need to growth. On the one hand, many Catholics must dedicate themselves further to the knowledge of the faith so that they may more easily understand teachings which are in alignment with the faith and teachings which are not. On the other hand, some Catholics must learn to truly submit their intellects and wills to those of their bishops and the Pope so that trust and harmony are considered before distrust and discord.
As for Catholics not being “free” in what we are to think and believe, your husband would be correct. As Christ taught, Catholics ultimately are sheep, with Christ as the ultimate Shepherd. The Pope acts in his place (as Vicar), and the bishops under the Pope. We, as sheep, do not have unfettered freedom of intellect, for Christ has already established the truth and the faith. The intellect is only of use insofar as it operates within truth and reality. The Catholic faith and teachings–established by Christ, the ultimate truth–bind the intellects and wills of all Catholics. In this way, our intellects are unlocked to their true potential, as we are protected from erroneous or senseless thoughts so long as we remain with in the boundaries that have been established.
In other words, free thought which disregards the teachings of the Church can only lead to false beliefs, half-truths, and erroneous conclusions, since the Church contains, in Christ, the fullness of the truth.
