POPE FRANCIS - A HERETIC? ON THE PUNISHMENT OF HERETICS AND ESPECIALLY OF THE POPE WHO HAS BECOME A HERETIC WILLIAM OF OCKHAM Dial. 6 CHP. XXVII


Chapter 27

Student: Apply the aforesaid to my question. Namely, why does one say that it is not necessary to appeal from a heretical judgement of the pope by observing the form and the details etc.

Master: The aforesaid statements are applied to the proposed question as follows. The point is that there is no necessity to appeal from such a papal sentence in the first and second acception of the word "appeal", and that is why the mentioned modification was added to the assertion we are discussing. It is, however, necessary to appeal in the third or fourth sense of the term from a heretical judgement of the pope known to be such, because such a judgement must be opposed, and he who knows it to be heretical must indicate by some action that he considers it to be such.

Student: But is it not a fact that only he against whom such a judgement has been rendered is obligated to appeal from it in the manner described.

Master: The answer is that not only this individual, but every catholic who knows the judgement to be heretical is obligated to appeal, because otherwise he would be aiding and abetting a heretical pope.

Student: Is he bound to appeal in this manner within a specified time frame.

Master: The answer is that he is not constrained by a specific time frame, because the appeal is not intended to prevent the judgement from becoming legally conclusive. It is rather made so that the appellant will not be seen to be favouring a heretic.

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