Last week, the Runner published an opinion piece on why the Papacy should be eliminated. While this piece is meant to be a personal opinion, it is in reference to a major tenet of the Catholic faith. While it is feasible that the author’s opinion is that the Papacy should fall, his view of the Papacy is inherently flawed. He states that it is a “former religious and secular authority of an office that currently holds no such power.” It is true that the Papacy no longer holds secular authority, in that he no longer heads armies or holds political power; however, saying that the Pope holds no more religious authority is a massive fallacy. The Pope is considered infallible in regards to doctrines directly related to faith and morals. This infallibility is considered to be given by God to the Holy Father. When he speaks ex cathedra, or in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians, and defines a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the entire Church, he is deemed infallible. Also, if Christ gave the office of the Papacy to Peter, He obviously intended the office to exist-not for it to die with Peter. The Apostles, in order to continue the mission entrusted them by God, passed on their power, appointing successors who were proven worthy.. If they did not think the replacement and continuation of the Apostolic line was important, they would not have replaced Judas after Christ’s death-they could have allowed the space held by Judas to remain open, but they chose a new Apostle out of the group of Disciples. The “whole of the Church is apostolic, in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (863, emphasis added).

Signed

Elizabeth Lewis