Where does the buck stop?

[Shiranui117]

Hello all,

I know that, if a priest teaches/believes something heretical or against the canons of the Church, he’s liable to his bishop, and the bishop can take action and depose the priest, suspend him, or whatever else. And if a bishop teaches/believes something heretical or against the canons of the Church, then another bishop, a synod of bishops, and the Pope each have a right to censure and reprove the errant bishop, and a synod of neighboring bishops together with the Pope have the authority to depose/suspend the bishop.

My question is, let’s say the Pope teaches/believes something heretical or against the canons of the Church. I don’t care whether the Pope promulgates it ex cathedra or not; it doesn’t really matter in my scenario. Let’s say he promulgates a letter or gives a sermon containing heresy, not ex cathedra. Who is the Pope liable to? Who can censure him for heresy? Who can depose him for being a heretic? Is there anything that the Church can do to get rid of or punish an errant Pope?

 

[OxygenMan]

Since it’s never really happened, it would be hard to say. I remember reading somewhere that he would essentially stop being the pope the moment he propagated a heretical doctrine, and the cardinals would have the authority to replace him.
I can’t remember the source though, sorry.

 

[Margy1948]

Since it’s never really happened, it would be hard to say. I remember reading somewhere that he would essentially stop being the pope the moment he propagated a heretical doctrine, and the cardinals would have the authority to replace him.
I can’t remember the source though, sorry.

There were a lot of rogue popes weren’t there? Not in our lifetime, but back in the day?
This would be an interesting thing to google if a person were interested.

 

[Evan]

Since the HS protects the Church from error, I’d leave it up to him.

 

[OxygenMan]

There were a lot of rogue popes weren’t there? Not in our lifetime, but back in the day?
This would be an interesting thing to google if a person were interested.

The problem was that they were only rogue in the sense that they lived immoral lives. Speaking of theology and doctrine, the popes have been surprisingly consistent. Even the worst of them.

 

[Molokai_fire]

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the pope is infallible when he speaks from his position of authority on a particular issue or doctrine (ex cathedra). This means that the Pope will never mislead the Church on matters relating to Faith and morals.
There have been corrupt Popes who have plotted and murdered people in their quest for power. Who knows the genius of the Almighty, but Faith and morals are the cornerstone of us ordinary day-to-day Catholics, we were lead through the centuries by the true way, and always will be. If such a terrible event were to occur, only God has the authority and because of this, we rely on his goodwill

 

[LegoGE1947]

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the pope is infallible when he speaks from his position of authority on a particular issue or doctrine (ex cathedra). This means that the Pope will never mislead the Church on matters relating to Faith and morals.
There have been corrupt Popes who have plotted and murdered people in their quest for power. Who knows the genius of the Almighty, but Faith and morals are the cornerstone of us ordinary day-to-day Catholics, we were lead through the centuries by the true way, and always will be. If such a terrible event were to occur, only God has the authority and because of this, we rely on his goodwill

I wish a few bucks would stop in my pocket!

I have heard that even the bad popes have not been able to mislead people in the area of faith and morals.

 

[Shiranui117]

Since it’s never really happened, it would be hard to say. I remember reading somewhere that he would essentially stop being the pope the moment he propagated a heretical doctrine, and the cardinals would have the authority to replace him.
I can’t remember the source though, sorry.

If you ever do remember it, please let me know!

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the pope is infallible when he speaks from his position of authority on a particular issue or doctrine (ex cathedra). This means that the Pope will never mislead the Church on matters relating to Faith and morals.

But it is my understanding that not everything the Pope says is ex cathedra–not even his sermons or encyclicals are all ex cathedra, right? Is it possible for him to say something heretical outside of an ex cathedra context? Such as when Pope Honorius basically encouraged Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople in his Monothelite heresy?

I wish a few bucks would stop in my pocket!

LOL

The problem was that they were only rogue in the sense that they lived immoral lives. Speaking of theology and doctrine, the popes have been surprisingly consistent. Even the worst of them.

I have heard that even the bad popes have not been able to mislead people in the area of faith and morals.

That is very interesting to think about!

 

[DavidFilmer]

There is no power on earth that can depose a validly elected Pope except the Pope’s own resignation (or death).

Popes have been compelled to resign under threat, and some have been murdered in order to vacate his Office.