Pope Benedict in Germany

[MissLT]

Yeah, too many people get caught up with it. But when something is gone, something else would be created and bring us problems. It's like now we're having a lot more new species because a lot of our old ones are extinct. That's how life is. Isn't that sad?

[andes]

there so many religions in this world. each of those teach alot of good stuff.. however,it couldn't make this live better.
why? does it means that religions are useless?
does it means that world without religions will be better?
i guess not. the source of the problem is human being itself (as i said in other posting)..
So we couldn't either blame religion or God.
about offends and being offended, i think thats not a big deal if we could practice what we have-or should have-learned from our religion

[Rach]

Perhaps the world would be better without religions, but they are here and obviously mean a big deal to a lot of people. Yeah I agree with you, religions can teach also a lot of could stuff, perhaps it's always the misinterpretations that cause so much trouble.

[Rach]

But I'm still thinking about that bumper sticker anyway, I really like that "no religions, no problems"... hm, but I don't think my boyfriend wants to have that bumper sticker on his new car

[Danyet]

That news is wrong because there is no rule a Pope can't apologize.

Actually it is historically accurate that the Pope or Vatican has considered herself "Infallible". They consider themselves the "last word" and supposedely speak for God on Earth.

Just Google "Infallible Pope" and see what you get.

[MissLT]

This one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5355758.stm

[Danyet]

Yeah that will do!

[MissLT]

Statements by a pope that exercise papal infallibility are referred to as solemn papal definitions or ex cathedra teachings. These should not be confused with teachings that are infallible because of a solemn definition by an ecumenical council, or with teachings that are infallible in virtue of being taught by the ordinary and universal magisterium. For details on these other kinds of infallible teachings, see Infallibility of the Church.

According to the teaching of the First Vatican Council and Catholic tradition, the conditions required for ex cathedra teaching are as follows:

1. "the Roman Pontiff"
2. "speaks ex cathedra" ("that is, when in the discharge of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, and by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority….")
3. "he defines"
4. "that a doctrine concerning faith or morals"
5. "must be held by the whole Church" (Pastor Aeternus, chap. 4.)
For a teaching by a pope or ecumenical council to be recognized as infallible, the teaching must make it clear that it is definitive and binding. There is not any specific phrasing required for this, but it is usually indicated by one or both of the following: (1) a verbal formula indicating that this teaching is definitive (such as "We declare, decree and define..."), or (2) an accompanying anathema stating that anyone who deliberately dissents is outside the Catholic Church. (copied)

I don't see how Benedict couldn't apologize, according to this rule. He quoted the ancient King's opinion (non-related to Christian texts or Christianity) to make his point.

[Shazzam]

That was actually really interesting Lenny.

[Tora]

similar article in bbc:

...According to the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome IS infallible - but only in specific cases. The current furore over remarks made by the pontiff about Islam does not fall into this category.

Papal infallibility only comes into play with issues of faith that concern the whole Church. It doesn't apply when the Pope is expressing a personal opinion or, in this case, quoting from a historical text...

the whole story