POPE FRANCIS - A HERETIC? CAN THE CARDINALS BECOME HERETICS? WILLIAM OF OCKHAM Dial. 5.6-10 CHP. VI


Chapter 6

Student: Following on from the above [remarks] about the pope I want to know what the learned think about the college of cardinals, that is, whether they all think that the college of cardinals can be stained by heretical wickedness..

CAN THE CARDINALS BECOME HERETICS?

Master: There are conflicting opinions about this. For some people think that it is not possible for the whole college of cardinals to become heretics and brother G[erald Ot] seems to be of this opinion. He clearly asserts this, as I have heard from some Friars Minor, in the legal proceedings at Perpignan directed against brother M[ichael]. There are many arguments for this assertion.

That the Cardinals can not become heretics

The first is as follows. The Roman church can not become heretical: 24, q. 1, c. Pudenda [col.978] and c. A recta [col.969] and c. Memor, where pope Sixtus says[col.969], "I am mindful that I preside in the name of that church whose confession has been glorified by the Lord Jesus and whose faith never fosters any heresy but in fact destroys all heresies." The church that Sixtus ruled, however, was the Roman church; therefore it is not possible for the Roman church to become heretical. But that Roman church is not the pope because the pope rules over the Roman church; however, no one can rule over himself. Therefore the pope is not the Roman church which can not become heretical. Nor is the universal church the Roman church because the Roman church is the chief and head of the other churches. The universal church, however, is not the head of the other churches but is the whole body. Nor can it be said that the Roman church is the Roman people nor the clergy with the people nor the whole clergy which contains the college of cardinals as part. For it pertains to the Roman church to make arrangements about other churches, as we clearly gather from the sacred canons. This does not pertain, however, to the Roman people, nor to the clergy and people, nor to the whole Roman clergy which contains the college of cardinals as part. Therefore the college of cardinals only should be understood by the Roman church, and consequently that college can not become heretical.

A second [argument is] as follows. The apostolic see can not become heretical, as Pope Eusebius attests. As we find in 24, q. 1, c. In sede, he says [col.969], "The catholic religion has always been preserved without stain in the apostolic see." But the apostolic see is not the pope who presides over the apostolic see, nor is it the Roman people, nor the clergy with the people, nor the whole of the clergy. It is, therefore, the college of cardinals; and as a consequence the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

A third [argument is] as follows. That college which alone and exclusively has the power to choose the highest pontiff, who is the head of the church, can not become heretical, because if that college were heretical it would be deprived of the power to choose the highest pontiff, since heretics ought not choose the highest pontiff, and consequently the whole church would lack the power to choose the highest pontiff and this is to be regarded as unsuitable. But, as we gather from a decree of Pope Nicholas collected in dist. 19, the power to choose the highest pontiff pertains to the college of cardinals alone; therefore, the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

A fourth [argument is] as follows. That college to which it pertains to correct and judge the pope if he deviates from the faith can not err against faith, because if it could err against faith the pope would not be subject to its judgement - indeed other christians too would not necessarily be subject to its judgement in a case concerning faith because they could appeal from it if it erred; it is much more the case, therefore, that the pope would not be subject to its judgement. But the college of cardinals can judge a heretical pope, as is proved by the example of those who rejected Anastasius II for heretical wickedness, as we find in dist. 19 [c.9; col.64]. However these were cardinals. It pertains to cardinals, therefore, to judge a pope in a matter of heretical wickedness, and consequently the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

A fifth [argument is] as follows. That college which would cause the whole multitude of christians to become heretical if it became heretical can not become heretical; but if the college of cardinals became heretical the whole multitude of christians would become heretical because, as we find in 6, q. 1, para. Verum [col.559], "If the head becomes ill the remaining members of the body easily become infected." The college of cardinals is the head of christianity, however, so if the college of cardinals became heretical the whole of christianity would easily become heretical. But the whole of Christianity can not become heretical, and so the college of cardinals can not become heretical either.

A sixth [argument is] as follows. If the college of cardinals could become heretical it is much more the case that any other college at all could become heretical, and so there would be no college of christians which could not incur heretical wickedness. As a result the whole of christianity could be defiled with heretical wickedness, and this is not to be conceded. Therefore the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

A seventh [argument is] as follows. That college can not become heretical which no christian dares to resist in matters of faith and against which no christian dares to defend catholic faith, because if such a college were to become heretical the whole faith would be endangered. But no christian dares to resist the college of cardinals in matters of faith nor to defend anything touching on the faith against that college. Therefore the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

An eighth [argument is] as follows. The college of cardinals is worthier and more noble than the college of bishops, for cardinals at the Roman curia are ranked ahead of bishops. But the college of bishops can not become heretical because it succeeds the college of apostles which could not become heretical. Neither, therefore, will the college of bishops be able to become heretical; and consequently it is much more certainly the case that the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

A ninth [argument is] as follows. That college which can not be accused of heresy can not become heretical. But the college of cardinals can not be accused of heresy because it could only be accused of heresy by inferiors and, according to canonical decrees, inferiors can not accuse superiors. Therefore the college of cardinals can not be accused of heresy and, consequently, can not become heretical.

A tenth [argument is] as follows. That college in the faith of which the simple are saved can not become heretical, because if it did become heretical the simple would not be able to be saved. But the simple are saved in the faith of the elders; however cardinals are the greatest of the elders. Therefore the simple are saved in the faith of the cardinals and, consequently, the college of cardinals can not become heretical.

Originally Published 18 Oct 2013


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