As a Catholic and a frequent guest of the CSUB Newman Club, I was dismayed at Mr. Steven Barker’s anti-Catholic screed, “Catholics Should Eliminate the Papacy” (Runner, 2-27-13, “Opinion”). Mr. Barker wrote, “Catholic doctrine suggests that the papacy was founded by Christ himself” [sic]. In point of fact, this teaching is no mere suggestion. The doctrines of Petrine Primacy and Succession are defined dogmas of the Catholic Church; no Catholic is at liberty to reject them, as they are essential to the Catholic Faith.

Mr. Barker contends, “While the cardinals can elect a Pope, the appointment of a Pope is ultimately a secular tradition that lacks a divine mandate for perpetuation.” Petrine succession to the Papacy is certainly not a “secular tradition that lacks a divine mandate for perpetuation.” Firstly, it is integral to the Divinely instituted office of the Papacy. It is also a dogma of the Catholic Faith: “According to Christ’s ordinance, Peter is to have successors in his Primacy over the whole Church and for all time” (De fide). (Dr. Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma [Rockford, III: TAN, 1974], p. 282).

The title Pope (from Late Greek, papas, derived from pappas, i.e., father) is drawn from this context as well. As Eliakim was to be a father to the population of Jerusalem and to Judah, so the Successors of Peter are Fathers (Popes) to the New Israel.

We invite Mr. Barker to investigate the doctrines of the Church of which he claims to be a member, and to reassess his profoundly negative view of the Papacy. It is among the many blessed gifts with which Christ has endowed His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Signed,

Bryan Gesinger