[RFEngineer]

If “the blues brothers” movie has taught me anything, it’s that Catholics and Protestants can find common moral planes to cooperate and resist tyranny.

Of course popes aren’t infallible on any level. But he must be the leader of the catholic faith without question, so he has to be right by definition. This was needed in the aftermath of the protestant reformation be cause the pope could no longer claim political leadership of the civilized world. It was to beef up his credentials when Rome lost political control so the catholic faithful would not question his authority as had become routine for developing democracies. Catholicism can’t survive as a democracy. So he needed to be perceived by the rank and file as not subject to their griping.

[RFEngineer]

Think of it as the doctrine of “presidential infallibility” in place today by the Democrat faithful. It was a needed tool at the time.

[daniel1212]

Of course popes aren’t infallible on any level. But he must be the leader of the catholic faith without question, so he has to be right by definition. This was needed in the aftermath of the protestant reformation be cause the pope could no longer claim political leadership of the civilized world. It was to beef up his credentials when Rome lost political control so the catholic faithful would not question his authority as had become routine for developing democracies. Catholicism can’t survive as a democracy. So he needed to be perceived by the rank and file as not subject to their griping.

Your analysis is revealing what helped you obtain your engineering degree.

[Elsie]

If “the blues brothers” movie has taught me anything...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvujknrBuE

[Elsie]

...it’s that Catholics and Protestants can find common moral planes to cooperate and resist tyranny.

---

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

 

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

 

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

 

I said,"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of GOD or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

He said, "Baptist Church of GOD!"

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of GOD, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD?"

He said,"Reformed Baptist Church of GOD!"

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915!"

 

I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

-- Emo Phillips