Catholic Church and democracy

[RandomAlias]

Democracy is overrated. It tends toward a herd mentality which leads to various disorders and evils. We should hope that the Church never becomes a democracy.

 

[Genesis315]

Right, the whole significance and purpose of the Church’s charism of infallibility (including as exercised through the ministry of the Pope) is to transmit the deposit of faith whole and undefiled despite the fallibility and sins of its members (including the Pope).

 

[guanophore]

Catholic Church become a democracy

Unfortunately, it appears that most Americans already think the Church is a democracy! If this were not the case, they would not ignore the doctrines of the faith and the instructions of the Bishops.

 

[HeDa]

The Catholic Church can be “democratic” in other ways. My bishop decided years ago, that each parish send one lay representative to two weekend meetings every year as he is interested in what is going on in the parishes. Last autumn we were talking about this years synod Young people and the church. Because of these meetings, the pope decided that, my diocese is one of the reference groups.

 

[RedFan]

Well, how do we know the keys were validly passed from Peter to Linus? Or were even passable at all, by any means?

 

[1ke]

Well, how do we know the keys were validly passed from Peter to Linus? Or were even passable at all, by any means?

define “passing the keys”.

Linus was the bishop of Rome. He was the Pope because he was the bishop of Rome. Period

 

[jackfitz316]

Democracy is a flawed system. This is because it depends entirely upon the moral fiber of the electorate. Don’t get me wrong, it is still the second best system. The first being an absolute monarchy. The problem with absolute monarchies is that they depend entirely on the moral character of one person. The only way that an absolute monarchy is better than a democracy is if the king is extremely moral. That is why Christ’s kingdom will be greater than even America.

Regarding the Church, the same principles apply. I do not trust the laity to make the right decision. I think that we would quickly see a drastic divergence from the early church. I think that by limiting who elects the Pope, we can guarantee that the Pope will be a good person.

 

[goodcatholic]

Authority in the Church is top down, not bottom up.

and we are like rebellious teenagers. “they cant tell us what to do!”

 

[goodcatholic]

I do not trust the laity to make the right decision. I think that we would quickly see a drastic divergence from the early church. I think that by limiting who elects the Pope, we can guarantee that the Pope will be a good person.

Have to agree with you here. Too many rebels with self-serving motives among the laity.

 

[misstherese]

The Church is a monarchy. A monarchy is the only thing that will work. We need a leading voice.

We refer to Jesus as a King and Mary as a Queen. A monarchy is the best reflection of heaven.

The sole regime of a divine origin never comes from below, but only from above.

A democracy is a form of government that can become totalitarian easily because it’s leader is the mass. And the mass often aren’t pious; commonly it is few who are.
You should read this article

Is liberal democracy closer to Communism or Catholicism?

www.catholicworldreport.com

 

[RedFan]

Linus was the bishop of Rome. He was the Pope because he was the bishop of Rome. Period

Assuming Christ meant for Peter’s primacy to be passed on at all, no gospel passage references Peter’s handing off his leadership role to any single successor. Not to a surviving member of the Twelve. Not to someone otherwise close to Jesus (James, for example). Not to a replacement chosen by lot (a la Matthias). Not to the next bishop of wherever Peter ended up at the end of his life. Not to anyone.

But you’re ready to pick one possible option and say “period.” OK.

 

[1ke]

Yes because the unanimous witness of the Church tells us this. We are not sola scriptura.

 

[RedFan]

I’m not a sola scriptura guy either. But the “unanimous witness” you speak of is not a first century witness. It developed well after the events it seeks to sanction.

For all we know, Linus thought of himself as one bishop among equals (i.e., equal to the successors of the other apostles) – not as having special authority. For all we know, the rest of the second-generation apostolic successors accorded him no primacy whatsoever.

 

[BlackFriar]

The followers of Christ do not tie their colours to any particular form of political authority in response to the example of Christ who came not to be served but to serve.

Having said that there needs to be a working model of some sort … but everything is in principle up for grabs though prudential considerations suggest the present incarnation is working well enough.

The successor of Peter (as chosen by him or by the Cardinals he currently empowers) will always be a pre-eminent leader in the community by the charge of Christ.

 

[KevinK]

I think that by limiting who elects the Pope, we can guarantee that the Pope will be a good person.

This is historically demonstrably false.