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Rogerteder
Guest
Can the Pope infallibly declare a war unjust?
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Newbie2
Guest
Good question.
I suppose in an aggregious case, it would seem that a Pope could speak out or write against a certain war, or war in general. However, it might be difficult to make such a statement without full knowledge of what precipitated the war and all the factors involved.
For example, the USA declares war on, say Cuba for preparing to launch a massive nuclear attack on the US. For years they have been able to stockpile nukes and build delivery systems without the world knowing about it, but only a few spies and government officials know about it, and this information doesn’t get released…and the US government makes up another reason to invade Cuba so as not to scare the US populace, the Pope would not be privy to this information.
Far-fetched scenario, admittedly.
I suppose in an aggregious case, it would seem that a Pope could speak out or write against a certain war, or war in general. However, it might be difficult to make such a statement without full knowledge of what precipitated the war and all the factors involved.
For example, the USA declares war on, say Cuba for preparing to launch a massive nuclear attack on the US. For years they have been able to stockpile nukes and build delivery systems without the world knowing about it, but only a few spies and government officials know about it, and this information doesn’t get released…and the US government makes up another reason to invade Cuba so as not to scare the US populace, the Pope would not be privy to this information.
Far-fetched scenario, admittedly.
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GWH91
Guest
I know that the Pope can speak on matters of religion infallibly, as for declaring wars unjust infallibly, i don’t know.
May the peace of the Lord be with you all
May the peace of the Lord be with you all
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didymus
Guest
I doubt it.
Infallibility is a negative, limited charism. It means that the Pope cannot lead the Church into error in matters of faith and morals, when speaking ex cathedra.
It does not apply to his opinion about matters of policy or current events. A Pope could declare the Just War theory ex cathedra (Holy Spirit permitting) and then publicly state his non-infallible opinion that a particular war doesn’t meet the criteria.
NB: Bl. Pope John Paul II’s opposition to the death penalty is well known but I never heard of him claiming that any particular execution violated Church doctrine – from what I’ve read he always wrote to heads of state claiming that execution are no longer necessary and begging for commutation in the name of mercy.
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bilop
Guest
No, I do not think so. The competent authority to judge the justness of a war (in Just War Doctrine) is the legitimate government of the state.
God Bless
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budgie2
Guest
I do not know if I agree with the doctrine of Papal Infallibility although I agree with Papal authority so I would say no. This is only recently because I have serious doubts in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception and believe this to be heresy so I also do not agree with papal infallibility and think Pope Pius IX was covering his tracks. Here are some of my arguments against the Immaculate Conception:
As Mary was conceived without Original Sin she was redeemed before Christ.
The doctrine of Immaculate Conception led to the Assumption. Mary is the only human being in history to never die and be resurrected. Jesus had to die and be resurrected even though he is also called without sin by the Church.
Mary would have had to have an eternal body from the moment of conception similar to the body that we would have at the Resurrection. The nature of her body may have been different. I’d kill her off.
As Mary was conceived without Original Sin she was redeemed before Christ.
The doctrine of Immaculate Conception led to the Assumption. Mary is the only human being in history to never die and be resurrected. Jesus had to die and be resurrected even though he is also called without sin by the Church.
Mary would have had to have an eternal body from the moment of conception similar to the body that we would have at the Resurrection. The nature of her body may have been different. I’d kill her off.
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Tony_Behan
Guest
Budgie 2 states :
“Here are some of my arguments against the Immaculate Conception: As Mary was conceived without Original Sin she was redeemed before Christ.
The doctrine of Immaculate Conception led to the Assumption. Mary is the only human being in history to never die and be resurrected. Jesus had to die and be resurrected even though he is also called without sin by the Church.
Mary would have had to have an eternal body from the moment of conception similar to the body that we would have at the Resurrection. The nature of her body may have been different. I’d kill her off.”
From memory Catholic teaching holds that 1) Mary did in fact die but then she was assumed into heaven. 2) Because our ‘God of time’ would not allow Jesus to be conceived in a sinful body, He caused Mary’s origina sin to be removed via the future merits of her son Jesus BEFORE Jesus was conceived. 3) Bernadette of Louards provided confirming evidence for the immaculate conception some 4 years AFTER the pope proclaimed it. Hope this is helpful Budgie2.
As regards the Just War and Pope infalibility it seems clearly within the Pope’s authority to declare that a Just War can exist, but not whether a particular war is just. Is this correct?
“Here are some of my arguments against the Immaculate Conception: As Mary was conceived without Original Sin she was redeemed before Christ.
The doctrine of Immaculate Conception led to the Assumption. Mary is the only human being in history to never die and be resurrected. Jesus had to die and be resurrected even though he is also called without sin by the Church.
Mary would have had to have an eternal body from the moment of conception similar to the body that we would have at the Resurrection. The nature of her body may have been different. I’d kill her off.”
From memory Catholic teaching holds that 1) Mary did in fact die but then she was assumed into heaven. 2) Because our ‘God of time’ would not allow Jesus to be conceived in a sinful body, He caused Mary’s origina sin to be removed via the future merits of her son Jesus BEFORE Jesus was conceived. 3) Bernadette of Louards provided confirming evidence for the immaculate conception some 4 years AFTER the pope proclaimed it. Hope this is helpful Budgie2.
As regards the Just War and Pope infalibility it seems clearly within the Pope’s authority to declare that a Just War can exist, but not whether a particular war is just. Is this correct?
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thistle
Guest
Catholics must believe that. Not to believe that is heresy.
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