Posts Tagged ‘authority’

Pell contrasts attitudes to Church de-centralisation

Tuesday, October 13th, 2015

Cardinal George Pell has written of variations in attitudes about devolution of authority from Rome to local bishops under different pontificates. In an essay he co-authored on subsidiarity, Cardinal Pell wrote about the preferences of some liberal Christians living in countries with more liberal episcopacies. During the pontificates of St John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Read more

Cardinal clarifies comments on resisting Pope over doctrine

Friday, February 13th, 2015

An American cardinal has moved to contextualise his claim that he would resist any possible move by Pope Francis away from Catholic doctrine. In an interview on a French television channel, Cardinal Raymond Burke said popes do not have the power to change the Church’s teaching or doctrine. Papal power is “at the service of Read more

True Christian speech comes from Spirit, not degrees, Pope says

Friday, September 5th, 2014

A Christian receives his or her ability to speak with authority from the Holy Spirit, not from a theology degree, Pope Francis says. Preaching at a Mass at the Saint Martha residence where he lives on September 2, the Pope said people were amazed at Jesus’ preaching because his word “had authority”. Jesus’ authority came Read more

An Easter story

Friday, March 30th, 2012

If it were not for Mary Magdalene, we never would have heard about the Resurrection. The men would still be in the Upper Room, trying to figure how to get out of town. Do you sometimes wonder if things have changed? I don’t think they have. Men are careful. Men are circumspect. Men, after all, Read more

The Vatican Says

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

In this topsy turvy world in which we live, there are so few things of which we can be sure. But there is one truth which endures: if someone tells you, “The Vatican says,” then it probably doesn’t. And what do they mean, “The Vatican,” anyway? And what do they mean, “says?” The phrase “the Read more