Pope and Priest Gods?

[Methodology]

Three of the quotes that I had received say that the pope and priests are Gods, that seems rather peculiar. Could I get your perspective on them please?

“Innocent III has written: ‘Indeed, it is not too much to say that in view of the sublimity of their offices the priests are so many gods.’” St. Alphonsus De Liguori, in The Dignity of the Priesthood, p 36.

“Take care that we lose not that salvation, that life and breath which thou hast given us, for thou art our shepherd, thou art our physician, thou art our governor, thou art our husbandman, thou art finally another God on earth.” Christopher Marcellus in Oration addressing Pope Julius II, in Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512), Council Edition. Colm. Agrip. 1618, (Sacrorum Conciliorum, J.D. Mansi (ed.), Vol. 32, col. 761), (also quoted in History of the Councils, vol. XIV, col 109, by Labbe and Cossart).

“To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical.” The Gloss of Extravagantes of Pope John XXII, Cum. Inter, title 14, chapter 4, “Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium”, Column 140, Paris, 1685. (In an Antwerp edition of the Extravagantes, the words, “Dominum Deum Nostrum Papam” (“Our Lord God the Pope”) can be found in column 153).

 

[happygal]

Two of the quotes that I had received say that the pope and priests are Gods, that seems rather peculiar. Could I get your perspective on them please?

What priest and Pope are God, oh mind what is wrong!!

 

[NotWorthy]

Three of the quotes that I had received say that the pope and priests are Gods, that seems rather peculiar. Could I get your perspective on them please?

Are you sure these quotes are accurate? The Church does not nor ever did teach that priests and popes are gods.

St. Paul says that we can be like gods. The Church teaches that the priest forgives “in persona Christi”. But the priest is not a god or God.

 

[Magicsilence]

Source: bringyou.to/apologetics/num4.htm

LW> 1580 - POPE DECLARED TO BE “LORD GOD”

LW> 1922 - POPE DECLARED TO BE JESUS CHRIST

These two were quite hilarious and since you gave some quotes below I had to look this up. First, your quotes are as follows

LW> Pope John XXII decreed in 1685, “To believe that our LORD GOD the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed is to be deemed heretical.” Then Pius V stated, “The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in heaven and earth.” Finally, Pope Nicholas I declared, “the appellation of God had been confirmed by Constantine on the Pope, who, BEING GOD, cannot be judged by man.”

LW> Pope Pius X stated, “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but HE IS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the Pope speak? IT IS JESUS CHRIST that Speaks. Does the Pope accord a favor or pronounce an anathema? IT IS JESUS CHRIST who pronounces the anathema or accords the favor.”

Now we go to RADIO REPLIES by Fathers Rumble and Carty (volume 2)

2-310. Pope Pius X made the blasphemous claim that he was “Jesus Christ hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the Pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who speaks.”

REPLY: A Protestant paper, the “Church Review,” in England, October 3, 1895, charges Cardinal Sarto, Archbishop of Venice, with having uttered those words at Venice. Cardinal Sarto was elected Pope in 1903. But as soon as the charge was made in 1895 that Cardinal Sarto had said those words, inquiries were sent from England to Venice, and Cardinal Sarto produced the manuscipt of his discourse. And this is what he actually did say:

“The Pope REPRESENTS Jesus Christ Himself, and therefore is a loving father. The life of the Pope is a holocaust of love for the human family. His word is love; love, his weapon; love, the answer he gives to all who hate him; love, his flag, that is, the Cross, which signed the greatest triumph on earth and in heaven.”

2-311. Pope Nicholas I. said that the Pope, being God, is judged by no man.

REPLY: Never did Pope Nicholas I. say that the Pope is God. What he does say is this:

“Since those in higher authority are not judged by inferiors, it is evident that the Apostolic See, than which no earthly authority is higher, is judged by none.”

And that is perfectly sound reasoning. Even in civil law, the king is “above the law,” and not subject to his own laws. Hence the legal axiom, “The king can do no wrong.” Italy itself has acknowledged the justice of the Pope’s claim to be independent of all civil jurisdiction, and subject to no earthly authorities.

2-312. In the “Extravagantes” of Pope John XXII, Roman Canon Law says that it is heresy to deny the power of “Our Lord God the Pope.”

REPLY: That remark is attributed, not to Pope John XXII, but to the Canonist Zenzelinus, in his commentary on Title XIV of the “Extravagantes.” But an examination of the original manuscript of Zenzelinus, preserved in the Vatican Library, failed to reveal the words attributed to him; and it has been definitely proved that the reference to God is an interpolation in later copies of his commentary.

Phil P comments – let’s try to debate what Catholics really believe, Les, rather than trying to show we think the Pope is God, okay?

 

[VociMike]

I can assure you that Catholics don’t believe that either the Pope or priests are gods. Just ask a priest if you don’t believe me.

Neither does the Church teach such a thing. Look in the Catechism and you will not find such a teaching.

Finally, the Protestant world has been engaged in a 500-year propaganda war with the Catholic Church, and many quotes have been altered or forged outright. I can provide you with many examples. So there is no guarantee that the quotes you provided are even accurate.