I do believe that the pope is an essential part of the Church, but not having one for the past 60 years doesn’t preclude the papacy’s necessity or the survival of the Church. Many Church Fathers, theologians, and scholars dealing with eschatology have discussed the “end times” regarding the eclipse of the papacy. Father O’Reilly being one theologian off the top of my head. This long interregnum is something that has been speculated about in the past, so whether SV is true or not, it was not out of the realm of possibility in the minds of our betters.
Now, the Church is 2000 years old. You are inferring that the papacy wasn’t a necessary part of the Church since you seem to believe that the pope’s function was no more (or little more) than an ordinary bishop. Is that correct?
I’ve answered your question, now answer mine.
Ok, in answer to your question: Yes, the papacy is, was, and always will be a necessary part of the Church, I have never said or implied otherwise, yet I stand by what I said earlier; "The purpose [and reason] for him being the pope does not change just because he's a 100% disaster and has a diabolical purpose of his own, and before God he will answer for what he's doing. That much is certain."
For my own salvation, for your own salvation and those under our care, what is not important, what does not really matter to us for our salvation is the status of the pope. The reason it does not matter is because his status is something that by divine design we can do absolutely nothing about. Because we can do absolutely nothing about it, his status is something that is altogether useless to even contemplate for more than a brief or passing moment or two.
We all know right from wrong regardless of his status because of the Church's teachings and traditions prior to V2, as the snip I posted said;
"...Everything has been instituted with incomparable wisdom. After almost two thousand years, the Church has developed into an organization of excellent structure The doctrine is certain; the moral code is incontrovertible in the main; the divine liturgy has been (had been) refined to a perfection; the code of laws worked. In a word, the spiritual doctrine, the tradition, the authority, the experience, the customs, the supernatural objectives all have been established. With a little prudence and a little caution on the part of the pope, Holy Church will practically run itself!..."
Because of the situation within the Church, we have no choice but to admit that "The Church is practically running itself," since V2 - because by all appearances, it is running itself. What the situation has done is cause us all to live according to the Church Christ founded while the pope is out there shoveling more and more red hot coals on himself. There is nothing we can do about that either.
IMO, and I certainly could be wrong about this, but I believe that we are living the prophesy of Jeremias 23:1-4 right now, since V2:
23:1 Woe to the pastors, that destroy and tear the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the pastors that feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold I will visit upon you for the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. 3 And I will gather together the remnant of my flock, out of all the lands into which I have cast them out: and I will make them return to their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied. 4
And I will set up pastors over them, and they shall feed them: they shall fear no more, and they shall not be dismayed: and none shall be wanting of their number, saith the Lord.
Topic: Bergoglio an antipope (Read 9529 times)