"Pope should 'stick to matters concerning the Catholic Church," said JD Vance.

What matters concern the Catholic Church?? The Pope is the vicar of Christ whose kingdom is not of this world.

Does the US Vice President have a point?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

No. He doesn't understand his own Scriptures where God's prophets often stood up against the 'rulers' and power brokers to point out where they were going wrong.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK Can cite one instance where a God's prophet did that?

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@sree251 If you check out 1Kings 17-19 you will find that Elijah had a few choice words for King Ahab.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK

If you check out 1Kings 17-19 you will find that Elijah had a few choice words for King Ahab

Ok. I was hoping for a more recent case for critical comment. Vance's point is based on his perception of a spiritual guide. Being an American, his mindset is a provincial one. The pope, on the other hand, has his American mind opened a little wider than that of the hillbilly. Still, the role of God's prophet is open to discussion.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@sree251 Sorry if I misinterpreted your request for an example, but since I had mentioned Vance's lack of understanding of Scripture I used a Biblical example. More modern political 'prophets' might be Dietrich Bonhöffer in Nazi Germany, Martin Luther King in the segregated parts if the US and Desmond Tutu in apartheid South Africa.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK

More modern political 'prophets' might be Dietrich Bonhöffer in Nazi Germany, Martin Luther King in the segregated parts if the US and Desmond Tutu in apartheid South Africa.

Ok, thanks for pointing those instances out. I am not sure that those examples you cited were not invested in personal political agendas. Pope Leo might be in the same boat as Dietrich who resisted Hitler. Is Pope Leo a spiritual guide or, like Dietrich, who was a dissident?

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@sree251 Those are relevant questions. As I think you have suggested, terms like 'prophet' and 'dissident' depend on where you stand. Everyone has a personal political agenda. Politics is simply about the way economic and societal structures are organised and faith will inform our judgements on whether some structures are more or less moral. I am not a Roman Catholic so only observe the Pope from afar, but since the RCs became embroiled in the politics of statehood centuries ago it's no wonder the role is not clear. My reading of the Gospel message is that it is not party political in itself (how can it be, since it was first proclaimed in an absolute dictatorship?), but followers of Christ, like yeast or salt, are to enhance societies by their words and deeds and while also pointing to things beyond the material.