PopeWatch: Trilemma
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 41 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Pope Pius XII resigned as Pope when in danger of being kidnapped by Hitler’s army, so that they would get Eugenio Pacelli, but not the Pope. I believe that it was a conditional resignation.
Pope Francis often times forgets that he is the bishop of Rome. Retire as Pope and remain as bishop of Rome, as Bergoglio, as Bishop of Rome Joseph Ratzinger.
Not sure it matters either way. What’s going to matter is who the next Pope will be. And how to performance manage the dead weight into retirement.
“Not sure it matters either way. What’s going to matter is who the next Pope will be. And how to performance manage the dead weight into retirement.”
Ezabelle, The Pope must teach in unison with all the bishops, ex-cathedra, the Truth. Some choose to excommunicate themselves and violate their vows, then become deathbed converts.
Yes they should Mary.
[…] Links: Three Concurrent Valid Popes? – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American […]
I am not a canon lawyer but it would seem that our Founder left the details of the office of Pope rather loose for a reason. Resigning one’s authority simply means that someone else assumes it. The office of Pope is only one of authority. They have no more theological power than any other bishop. Let’s not overthink future possibilities. Solutions to situations have always been available in the past and they will be in the future.