Spiritual autocracy is not good for Catholics or other living things.

"The bishop of the Roman Church, in whom continues the office given by the Lord uniquely to Peter, the first of the Apostles, and to be transmitted to his successors, is the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Church on earth. By virtue of his office he possesses supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church, which he is always able to exercise freely."

 

"By virtue of his office, the Roman Pontiff not only possesses power over the universal Church but also obtains the primacy of ordinary power over all particular churches and groups of them."

"In fulfilling the office of supreme pastor of the Church, the Roman Pontiff is always joined in communion with the other bishops and with the universal Church. He nevertheless has the right, according to the needs of the Church, to determine the manner, whether personal or collegial, of exercising this office."

"No appeal or recourse is permitted against a sentence or decree of the Roman Pontiff."

"The First See is judged by no one."

 

The reality is that the papal office as exercised since the early 20th Century has expanded far beyond any recognized historical limits. 

 

None of the Fathers would have imagined a pope who appointed every bishop in the world and wielded unaccountable authority over the liturgy itself. 

 

Catholicism laid the grounds for papal totalitarianism a long time ago. And all the tools in the autocratic kit have been there since Pius X. 

 

The only bar against it was the conscience of the gent who got the white hat. And here we are.

In fact, in a remarkable irony, the Roman church is experiencing what the Roman Republic did.

 

Namely, when wielders of power recognize what the office allows them to do as opposed to what custom has dictated they must do...the former eventually wins.

 

As a noted schismatic once said: "The word 'must' is not to be used to princes."

 

Especially when you want to do something you believe is so obviously right and good for others. Cue C.S. Lewis.

 

The blossoming of spiritual autocracy began in the early 20th Century. And it is in full flower now.

 

Adam DeVille suggests a path forward, but it requires genuine humility and self-emptying.

 

The current ecclesiastical supplies of which resemble the toilet paper shelves from April 2020, so good luck to us all.