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Can somebody help me in answering what is it:

Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica, Juridica, Moralis, Theologica, Ascetica, Polemica, Rubristica, Historica by Lucius Ferraris (“Handy Library”), Vol. 5, Latin, published in Petit-Montrouge (Paris) by J. P. Migne, 1858 edition:

Columns 1823-1824:
  1. "Papa tantae est auctoritatis et potestatis, ut possit quoque leges divinas modificare, declarare, vel interpretari, ad num.
The Pope is of so great authority and power, that he is able to modify, declare, or interpret even divine laws.

Is it part of the Trident Canon Law? It looks that it says that pope can modify divine laws. But divine laws cannot be changed. I am in discussion with somebody (I believe he is an Adventists), and he told me that Roman Catholic Church declared that pope can change God’s law. I challenged him to show this in Catechism or Canon Law and he returned with above. I am confused.
 
You may wish to post this question to the Ask an Apologist forum.

I can’t be of much help myself because I don’t know the books or read Latin but I was able to find a website, albeit an anti-Catholic website, where one can view some of the pages of the book in question, including the referenced passage, so maybe someone who does read Latin can put the passage in context for you. You can find links to the appropriate page about 2/3 down this page: www.biblelight.net/Sources.htm. The passage in question, #30 on column 1824, seems to be expanded on in columns 1830-1831.

It might be helpful to note that, according to my dictionary, the word modify implies only minor change, often so as to limit or moderate. Perhaps this simply means that the pope can modify the divine law of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life’ to something even more moderate.

It also might be helpful to remember Jesus’ words to Peter, the first pope, in Matthew 16:19: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
 
I second the “Ask an Apologist” suggestion. I also know from years of experience that I don’t think like a lawyer, and the canons are legal documents.

As Todd observes, the word “modify” has a particular meaning that would be apt here. “Declaring” divine law does not mean “inventing” it. It can mean boldly “declaring” it, as when Paul VI published Humanae Vitae. The Pope certainly has the obligation to interpret divine law.

One question that comes to mind is whether this source is a solid one. People are fond of quoting forged documents, such as the Hosius statement and the Bishop Strossmayer speech. Do not assume that this is a forgery, but do rule out the possiblity.

I’d take it easy with the “power of the Keys” argument; it just makes them rabid.

Anybody know what “ad num” means?
 
2 Tim 3:16

16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

Of course the Scriptures themselves do not need correction or reproof, but how they are being utilized and interpreted by the whole of the populous.

I would guess that the Law that you refer to has the same context.
 
Can somebody help me in answering what is it:

Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica, Juridica, Moralis, Theologica, Ascetica, Polemica, Rubristica, Historica by Lucius Ferraris (“Handy Library”), Vol. 5, Latin, published in Petit-Montrouge (Paris) by J. P. Migne, 1858 edition:

Columns 1823-1824:
  1. "Papa tantae est auctoritatis et potestatis, ut possit quoque leges divinas modificare, declarare, vel interpretari, ad num.
The Pope is of so great authority and power, that he is able to modify, declare, or interpret even divine laws.

Is it part of the Trident Canon Law? It looks that it says that pope can modify divine laws. But divine laws cannot be changed. I am in discussion with somebody (I believe he is an Adventists), and he told me that Roman Catholic Church declared that pope can change God’s law. I challenged him to show this in Catechism or Canon Law and he returned with above. I am confused.
Pretty scary stuff in my opinion…
 
Well, Lucius Ferraris existed and wrote the book being cited; the Rev. Thomas Farrar (who was, it must be said, Anglican) cites the passage in question in his The Christian Ministry: A Manual of Church Doctrine; and a scan of the page in question may be found at BibleLight (click on the 1829-1830 link, it’s #1830).

So, it appears to be genuine; but it is distinctly not canon law, it is a particular scholar’s work on the teachings of the Church – and while Ferraris appears to have been most thorough in his cataloging of those teachings, that doesn’t mean he was always correct (recall that the Catholic Encyclopedia article notes both the value of the work and the author’s ‘laxism’). I do not have a copy of the Prompta Bibliotheca, so I do not know if it was ever given a nihil obstat.
 
Maybe you misunderstand the term DIVINE.
Nope, not at all. Maybe you just don’t want to acknowledge that the authority of the Popes (and of the Church in union with the Popes) is the same authority that was exercised by the Apostles. Because that would be Very Bad for your theology.
 
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