Pope orders NJ laws to Conform to his Decrees

[Slartibartfast]

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
It was until about 100 years ago when Pius12th IIRC, before he was pope, started writing cannon law. That's when the power of the church was moved from the people to the pope.

Are you referring to Vatican I in 1869 under Pius IX? To my knowledge, the Pope was always considered the head of the RCC. Please try to find me the reference you are quoting.

Below are some quotes that support the idea that the Pope is in charge, starting with Peter the Apostle.


St. Augustine of Hippo ("Sermon 131," 4th century A.D.)
"Rome has spoken. The case is closed."



Matthew chapter 16: (18)And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.



And please bear with the wordiness of the quote below, I have tried to figure out a way to shorten it, but I finally decided it is better left whole. The last line addresses your point.

St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Contra Gentiles" 13th century A.D.)-

"Hence He said to Peter before His Ascension, 'Feed my sheep' (John xxi, 1) and before His Passion, 'Thou in thy turn confirm thy brethren' (Luke xxii, 32); and to him alone He made the promise, 'To thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven' (Matt. xvi, 19). Nor can it be said that although He gave this dignity to Peter, it does not pass from Peter to others. For Christ instituted His Church to last to the end of the world, according to the text: 'He shall sit upon the throne of David and in his kingdom, to confirm and strengthen it in justice and judgement from henceforth, now, and for ever' (Isai. ix, 7). Therefore, in constituting His ministers for the time, He intended their power to pass to posterity for the benefit of His Church to the end of the world, as He Himself says: 'Lo, I am with you to the end of the world' (Matt. xxviii, 20). Hereby is cast out the presumptuous error of some, who endeavour to withdraw themselves from obedience and subjection to Peter, not recognising his successor, the Roman Pontiff, for the pastor of the Universal Church." -