"Head of The Church"

[RomanCatholic66]

I have a page I run in facebook that debates with bible only believers and this is what one person wrote in it, “Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…” … obviously insinuating that The Pope in The Catholic Church replaces Jesus’ Headship…

Just these types of nutty anti dotes. Can someone help me answer this kind of question without sounding insincere?

ps. I would put a link to that forum I created that has 1609 members but am not sure I would be allowed to here. I am new to this forum. But the title of it is, “Catholic Church or Bible Only - Debate”. I am sure it can be looked up. If somene wants a link to it, you are welcome to message me.

 

[DavidFilmer]

“Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…”

The Cardinals have never voted otherwise. However, they *have *voted on who is to be the Vicar (ie, subordinate representative) of Christ on earth. The Catholic Church does not include “head of the Church” among the titles of the Pope (but it does include “Vicar of Christ”, as well as “Servant to the Servants of God”).

Jesus ascended to heaven, and left the Church in the charge of Peter and the Apostles, who were to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Not much has changed since then. I could be mistaken, but I do believe this was mentioned in the Bible.

 

[Goya]

I have a page I run in facebook that debates with bible only believers and this is what one person wrote in it, “Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…” … obviously insinuating that The Pope in The Catholic Church replaces Jesus’ Headship…

Just these types of nutty anti dotes. Can someone help me answer this kind of question without sounding insincere?

ps. I would put a link to that forum I created that has 1609 members but am not sure I would be allowed to here. I am new to this forum. But the title of it is, “Catholic Church or Bible Only - Debate”. I am sure it can be looked up. If somene wants a link to it, you are welcome to message me.

I posted an ans. this afternoon in another thread that seems to work here just as well–so I’ll just cut&paste (use what you want, edit as you see fit):

IN response to:

When we go to the bible Jesus makes it clear that the substitute in His absence is the Holy Spirit (John 14).

***Christ left us a Church, comprised of the Apostles, and the paraclete to guide them and their successors.

(NB: Christ did not leave us a Bible; the Holy Spirit through Sacred Tradition, and Chirst’s Church, guided the Church to assembling and preserving the Bible–no mention of the Bible substituting the Church, until Martin Luther came along).

The paraclete (i.e.–Holy Spirit) has further guided Sacred Tradition, yielding that magnificent spectacle you surely witnessed today (which probably brought you here)…

…and further yielding that awesome selection of…

Pope Francis I, successor to the Bishopric of St. Peter, and Vicar of Christ.** *

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[josephback]

I have a page I run in facebook that debates with bible only believers and this is what one person wrote in it, “Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…” … obviously insinuating that The Pope in The Catholic Church replaces Jesus’ Headship…

Just these types of nutty anti dotes. Can someone help me answer this kind of question without sounding insincere?

ps. I would put a link to that forum I created that has 1609 members but am not sure I would be allowed to here. I am new to this forum. But the title of it is, “Catholic Church or Bible Only - Debate”. I am sure it can be looked up. If somene wants a link to it, you are welcome to message me.

Go to this online catechism and type in “Jesus Christ, head of the Church”:

scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Jesus is the head of the Church, the king, but he went back to heaven and left Peter in charge of the flock. Do they have pastors that they believe are led by God to teach them the Scripture? Are they by following pasotrs this trying to replace Jesus? Most certainly not.

 

[Genesis315]

I think way, way back some Hussites got together and elected Jesus to be Pope. This is actually blasphemous because it demotes Jesus.

Jesus is the Master of the household. St. Peter and his successors are the chief steward. There’s a reason Jesus tells this parable directly to St. Peter alone:

Luke 12: [42] And the Lord said: Who (thinkest thou) is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord setteth over his family, to give them their measure of wheat in due season? [43] Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come, he shall find so doing.

[He then goes on to explain the punishments and rewards for doing a bad or good job].

Compare the above to Jesus telling St. Peter to feed His sheep and Jesus giving St. Peter the keys (which is what kings gave their chief stewards when putting them in charge).

 

[Evan]

I have a page I run in facebook that debates with bible only believers and this is what one person wrote in it, “Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…” … obviously insinuating that The Pope in The Catholic Church replaces Jesus’ Headship…

Just these types of nutty anti dotes. Can someone help me answer this kind of question without sounding insincere?

ps. I would put a link to that forum I created that has 1609 members but am not sure I would be allowed to here. I am new to this forum. But the title of it is, “Catholic Church or Bible Only - Debate”. I am sure it can be looked up. If somene wants a link to it, you are welcome to message me.

I would reply,

The Church is not a democracy, but a monarchy. Christ, its head and king, would never allow a vote to put someone, who loves it less, to be a new head of the Church.

 

[The_Blunt_Brig]

Just show that Christians have always had popes as the visible head of the church and Jesus is the invisible head of the church who made the office of the pope.

List of Popes and their biographies (biblical times to now in an unbroken line) here newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm

And you can post links.

 

[steve_b]

I have a page I run in facebook that debates with bible only believers and this is what one person wrote in it, *“Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…” … obviously insinuating that The Pope in The Catholic Church replaces Jesus’ Headship… *

Just these types of nutty anti dotes. Can someone help me answer this kind of question without sounding insincere?

ps. I would put a link to that forum I created that has 1609 members but am not sure I would be allowed to here. I am new to this forum. But the title of it is, “Catholic Church or Bible Only - Debate”. I am sure it can be looked up. If somene wants a link to it, you are welcome to message me.

You might want to remind these “bible” Christians that they are obliged to act honestly and not dishonestly.

excerpts from Lumen Gentium (dogmatic constitution on the Church)

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

(all emphasis, bolding, etc etc is mine)

Christ is the head

[snip]
“The Head of this Body is Christ. He is the image of the invisible God and in Him all things came into being. He is before all creatures and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the Body which is the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the first place.(60) By the greatness of His power He rules the things in heaven and the things on earth, and with His all-surpassing perfection and way of acting He fills the whole body with the riches of His glory.” [snip]

Pope His vicar

[snip]
in order that the episcopate itself might be one and undivided, He placed Blessed Peter over the other apostles, and instituted in him a permanent and visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion.(1*) And all this teaching about the institution, the perpetuity, the meaning and reason for the sacred primacy of the Roman Pontiff and of his infallible magisterium, this Sacred Council again proposes to be firmly believed by all the faithful. Continuing in that same undertaking, this Council is resolved to declare and proclaim before all men the doctrine concerning bishops, the successors of the apostles, who together with the successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ,(2*) the visible Head of the whole Church, govern the house of the living God. [snip]

This is from the constitution of the Church. This is what the Church believes and teaches. They can read the entire document for context and knowledge,…but I wouldn’t hold my breath they’ll read it.

 

[Ignatius]

I have a page I run in facebook that debates with bible only believers and this is what one person wrote in it, “Praying that the Cardinals voted to have Jesus as Head of the church…” … obviously insinuating that The Pope in The Catholic Church replaces Jesus’ Headship…

Just these types of nutty anti dotes. Can someone help me answer this kind of question without sounding insincere?

The Pope is simply the head pastor of The Catholic Church.

ps. I would put a link to that forum I created that has 1609 members but am not sure I would be allowed to here. I am new to this forum. But the title of it is, “Catholic Church or Bible Only - Debate”. I am sure it can be looked up. If somene wants a link to it, you are welcome to message me.

 

[RomanCatholic66]

Thank you all… Much appreciate it!!