The "Do I have to" as opposed to "Should I" Argument

[Cecilianus]

My apologies people - wrong Pope

I was thinking of Liberius, not Honorius - Liberius, according to St Jerome, while exiled caved in to the Arians, and denounced the orthodox St Athanasius (source: newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm)

Mind you, given that he later recanted his OWN position he’s a real tricky case for those who think ALL papal teaching, no matter what the circumstances, is authoritative.

After all, how can we possibly BOTH follow Liberius’ teachings (non-authoritative and heretical) from when he was in his semi-Arian heretical phase, AND at the same time follow his teachings from when he changed his mind later on?

Liberius is an even worse example. He signed an Arian confession (or quasi-Arian one - the wording was more ambiguous than wrong) UNDER DURESS OF TORTURE. It didn’t even reflect his own beliefs, much less something we can point to as his “teaching”!!!

Catholic Answers has a number of books and articles dealing with Liberius. There are many places you could look for the history of this account; my recommendation would be Pope Fiction, by Patrick Madrid.

 

[Robert_Burns]

My apologies people - wrong Pope

I was thinking of Liberius, not Honorius - Liberius, according to St Jerome, while exiled caved in to the Arians, and denounced the orthodox St Athanasius (source: newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm)

Mind you, given that he later recanted his OWN position he’s a real tricky case for those who think ALL papal teaching, no matter what the circumstances, is authoritative.

After all, how can we possibly BOTH follow Liberius’ teachings (non-authoritative and heretical) from when he was in his semi-Arian heretical phase, AND at the same time follow his teachings from when he changed his mind later on?

Liberius did not promulgate heresy however which was the gist of your earlier post. Liberius was weak - and did indeed Excommunicate St Athanasius but just because he Excommunicated St Athanasius that doesnt imply that he embraced Arianism himself. He merely was weak and caved into political pressure from the Emperor. It is for that reason that Liberius was the First Pope not to have been considered a Saint - but he likewise was never guilty of Heresy or supporting Heresy.

Pax