POPE FRANCIS - A HERETIC? ON THE PUNISHMENT OF HERETICS AND ESPECIALLY OF THE POPE WHO HAS BECOME A HERETIC WILLIAM OF OCKHAM Dial. 6.1-15 CHP. XI


Chapter 11

Student: These representations in support of the aforestated claim are sufficient. Proceed therefore to outline the reasons for the opposite point of view.

Master: Some attempt to show that should a pope be defamed of heresy he would be subject to the judgment of the universal church. Firstly as follows. One who can be accused and judged of heresy is subject to the judgment of the universal church should he be defamed of heresy. But the pope can be accused and judged of heresy (di. 40, Si papa)[col. 146] . Therefore etc. Secondly thus: he who can be censured for heresy by someone is subject in the same cause to the judgment of the universal church. But the pope can be censured for heresy by someone. This is proved by the example of blessed Peter, whom blessed Paul rebuked because "he was not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel" (Galatians 2[:14]). Therefore should a pope be defamed of heresy he is subject to the judgment of the universal church. Thirdly: The inferior is subject to the judgment of the superior. But the pope is inferior to the universal church, just as the whole world is greater than a single city, therefore etc. Fourthly thus: No body has been sufficiently provided for unless decaying members which might infect the whole body can be amputated. But the whole of the church militant is one body, as the Apostle witnesses in Romans 12[:5]. He states: "we are one body in Christ". And of this body the pope is a definite member. Hence the church is not sufficiently provided for unless the pope may be cut off by the church should he fall into heretical wickedness. Therefore since Christ did not fail to secure necessary options for the militant church, it follows that the pope may be cut off by the militant church if he becomes a heretic, and consequently he is subject to the universal church should he be slandered of heresy. Fifthly thus: one who must be denounced to the church for some crime is subject to the judgment of the universal church should he be slandered. But the pope may be denounced to the church for the crime of heresy. Christ stated in Matthew 18[:15,17]: "moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee", and then: "if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church". From these words one gathers that since the pope is to be viewed as a brother, he can be denounced to the church for a crime, above all that of heresy. Therefore should he be slandered of the crime of heresy he is subject to the judgment of the church.

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