Listen to This Article Summary
In a recent article on Substack, I recounted a heated social media exchange over papal obedience, sparked by an unintentionally provocative question: “Do laypeople have to obey the Pope?” The post, intended to introduce a podcast clip, drew strong reactions from commenters—two of whom became central to the piece.
Key Points from the Exchange
Commenter 1’s Position: Catholics should disobey if the Pope asks for something contrary to Church teaching.
My Response: I clarified that the Pope is not a lone authority—the Magisterium, consisting of the Pope and bishops in union with him, preserves and interprets doctrine—the pope doesn’t do it alone, and so there’s no risk of him arbitrarily chaining Church teaching. This was a particularly valuable segment of the article, for those who aren’t well-versed in exactly what the Magisterium is, or what’s significant about its role.
I stressed that obedience is owed even when teachings aren’t fully understood by the faithful, since historically, the Pope is far more likely to be right than the average Catholic.
Commenter 2’s Position: A second commenter chimed in, claiming that St. Paul and Padre Pio both defied popes, and declared Catholics should “never” obey a Pope in error.
My Rebuttal: I argued Paul’s confrontation with Peter was not doctrinal disobedience, and that Padre Pio was exemplary in his obedience, even under restrictions. Such rhetoric often mirrors sedevacantist tactics, using Catholic-sounding language to promote distrust.
Points of Interest for Readers
Historical Clarifications: The piece includes easy to understand explanations of the Magisterium’s authority (with scripture references), the nature of Paul’s dispute with Peter, and Padre Pio’s relationship with the papacy—likely valuable to readers curious about Catholic history and teaching.
Caution Against “Protestant Thinking” in Catholic Garb: I draw a sharp line between legitimate theological inquiry and laypeople appointing themselves as judges over the Pope (or being “other popes”), which is the same as Protestantism, dressed in Catholic language.
The article is part theological primer, part cautionary tale about how online debates—especially in Catholic circles—can be distorted by misinformation, misplaced confidence, distrust, and ideology masquerading as orthodoxy.
Feel like giving it a read? Find it on my Substack!