Quote:
Originally Posted by Elgama
As I understand it the Pope does lead the Catholic Church through a form of revelation - I was always told by my RC relatives he was directed by God as to what is best for the Church, Hence changes over the years, Priests are now celibate and no longer marry etc
-Charley
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The celibate priest issue is different - that is an administrative rule of the Church, not a dogmatic teaching. There are two married Roman Catholic priests in our local area - they were Anglican priests who converted to the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope is allowing them to stay priests even though they are married.
That would be different than something like saying birth control is suddenly permitted which is an extension of dogmatic teachings.
Catholics believe that Peter was made the head of Christ's Church while Jesus was here on Earth and that this authority granted to Peter has been handed down one leader after another all the way to the current Pope. Through this office, the Pope can have revelation and, through a formal process that involves the college of Cardinals, can introduce that private revelation into the dogma of the church.
There have also been private revelations to people that the Catholic Church has recognized and has accepted as Truth (with a capital T), but again that involves a very long investigation and approval process.
Does that help?