Re: Pope Idol
 

He is on Earth:rolleyes:

Re: Pope Idol
 

Resorting to semantics in the course of a debate usually means that you've run out of anything valid to counter with ;)

Re: Pope Idol
 

No . I can accept that he is the head of the College of Bishops , but not of the Church .

"Christ is the head of the Church" ( Ephesians 5:23 ) .

I know that the Pope is often referred to in the media as the head of the Church , but it is incorrect .

In the same way the Archbishop of Westminster is often referred to as the head of the Catholic Church in England , but again this is incorrect . Cardinal Cormac , the retired Archbishop of Westminster , used to point out the inaccuracy of his being referred to in such a way .

Re: Pope Idol
 

If resorting to semantics means that I am seeking the accurate use of words leading to a correct understanding of the truth , then I am happy to be labelled as "semantic" .

Re: Pope Idol
 

I do think that his position is open for at least a little debate. I would agree that he is the Church's CEO; but, if you believe, then you have to admit that the founder of the organization is still alive and well, and that he exercises final authority, here on Earth, as well as in the rest of the Universe. I know that the thorny question of Papal Infallibility has to be considered; but it only recently became dogma ... First Vatican Council, I believe (I'm exercising my brain and eschewing google for a couple of days; so, please bear with me;)) Not quite within living memory; but not much older than my underwear.:rolleyes: And maybe we shouldn't forget that one of his "official" titles is servus servorum Dei, and I believe that Pope Francis, conservative as he is, intends to be this.