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 Off the Record

Analyzing JP II

By Phil Lawler (bio - articles ) | June 20, 2003 4:50 PM

Mark Shea's blog for today has a very interesting-- and, I think, accurate-- answer to the plaintive question, "Why doesn't the Pope just fire all the bishops?"

Look for the (not very descriptive) headline: "Since I've already alienated people by defending Rowling from the Inquisitors"

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  • Posted by: John J Plick - Jun. 21, 2003 10:09 PM ET USA

    I understand the reasoning, but it's not even close, Phil. Primacy is a very APPROPRIATE Western dogma which the Eastern ":Church" fumbled the ball on. Many of us "dissenters" are NOT against the Holy Father by any means, but desperately want him to use his legitimate authority to set limits on the behavior of bishops who are clearly out of control. He is the ONLY one who has the authority to handle the problem comprehensively, and there is no way he can divest himself of that responsibility.

  • Posted by: Pseudodionysius - Jun. 21, 2003 12:18 AM ET USA

    As Israel became more and more corrupt in the Old Testament, God raised up prophets to warn her of impending doom unless she repented and changed her ways. We need those prophets in the hierarchy. The OT record is that we will get them.

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