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To: SeekAndFind; armydoc
Good morning there, SeeksandFind, and armydoc.

Armydoc, you could send the pope an e-mail to advise him on the needed clarification:

benedictxvi@vatican.va

(That's the Vatican Internet office.)

But I woudn't hold my breath waiting for an answer. Why? Because it's kind of a tickbite question. (Not insulting you or anybody else, just pointing out...) It's kind of like stipulating the length of the tassels on the phylacteries.

All that Christ teaches us through His Church --- the "Ordinary Magisterium" --- we should follow, and you can find it in admirably searchable form at the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Link) --- yes,do click it and mouse around a while, it's hugely useful ---and in much more concise form at Luke 10:27 (Link) --- also well worth a mouseclick and a lifetime's pondering and obeying.

Bless the Lord, He always made short shrift of lawyers' questions.

The distinction between "infallible" and "noninfallible" is not at all analogous to "true" and "false." All that the Church teaches is true. The formally "infallible" stuff was, so to speak, underlined with a black felt-tip pen, not because it was "most important" or "most true," but because it was at the time a disputed question, and a Council or the Pope had to resolve the dispute.

That's why the Council of Jerusalem made that -- to us, perhaps, odd--- list of formal decisions:

Acts 15:28-30
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

(Scribal interjection: "Huh? That's it?")

So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.

What's up with that? Were these the Most Important Commandments to be observed in Christianity? Was this the Most True Teaching TM of the Church?

Far from it. The matter was disputed, and it was causing controversy and dissention in the Church. So a ruling was made, by the Council, under the influence of the Holy SPirit. The Church still has this role: to settle disputes, not to needlessly drag in new burdens and requirements!!

So you want a list of "Really Important Stuff"? --- well, see above, "Links".

47 posted on 08/03/2011 6:11:33 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love tenderly, and walk humbly with your God)
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To: SeekAndFind; armydoc
Oops, I just meant to send that the SeekandFind. Man, I need that coffee! But it's OK, you may both find something of interest.
48 posted on 08/03/2011 6:22:36 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (I wouldn't want to be Pope: because then (lifting chin) I wouldn't be infallible. - Prof. Hans Kung)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Up to your usual good form, I see :-)


50 posted on 08/03/2011 9:15:28 AM PDT by Running On Empty (The three sorriest words: "It's too late")
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