I wouldn’t necessarily be surprised to see it splinter further into distinct sub-denominations dependent on Continent.
You might not agree with the Catholic Church -- that's fine -- but be at least a little aware of history. 2000 years, and still one church - 'but it's going to splinter any day now'.
Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of Protestant denominations.
I didn’t mean it in the traditional sense of formally establishing a new denomination and more in the practical sense. That aside from a few uniting points of mutual agreement they will continue to diverge on a continental basis. While on paper still listening to the Pope. I suppose I should have been clearer on that.
The amount of power the Pope can wield practically is waning. The Bishops, Cardinals, and Religious Orders essentially run private fiefdoms. That while they listen to the Pope on paper in practice do their own thing the majority of the time.
The universal 'oneness' doesn't rely on the various subgroups listening to the Pope. He is, after all, just a man - with his own personal opinions - that each subgroup can choose to agree or disagree with.
With the exception of the incredibly rare occasion where the Pope speaks 'ex cathedra', everyone is free to 'listen on paper' (as you put it). (The last time a Pope spoke 'ex cathedra' - or 'infallibly' - was over 70 years ago.) Unless that is invoked (in order to 'keep the oneness'), everyone is free to disagree with the 'imperfect man' that is the Pope. (Granted, the last one was far more imperfect than most.)
A good Pope helps to keep everyone 'more' together (the same way a good pastor keeps a good local community together). And a bad Pope tends to let things decay.
Outside of of an (extremely rare) 'ex cathedra' pronouncement, the Pope has no power to 'unite everyone'. That's the job of the Holy Spirit.
Still, there are some who talk about the Pope as if he has the power of a dictator. They are quite mistaken.
Do you hear yourself?
You might not agree with the Catholic Church -- that's fine -- but be at least a little aware of history. 2000 years, and still one church - 'but it's going to splinter any day now'.
Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of Protestant denominations.
I do hear myself.
I didn’t mean it in the traditional sense of formally establishing a new denomination and more in the practical sense. That aside from a few uniting points of mutual agreement they will continue to diverge on a continental basis. While on paper still listening to the Pope. I suppose I should have been clearer on that.
The amount of power the Pope can wield practically is waning. The Bishops, Cardinals, and Religious Orders essentially run private fiefdoms. That while they listen to the Pope on paper in practice do their own thing the majority of the time.
The universal 'oneness' doesn't rely on the various subgroups listening to the Pope. He is, after all, just a man - with his own personal opinions - that each subgroup can choose to agree or disagree with.
With the exception of the incredibly rare occasion where the Pope speaks 'ex cathedra', everyone is free to 'listen on paper' (as you put it). (The last time a Pope spoke 'ex cathedra' - or 'infallibly' - was over 70 years ago.) Unless that is invoked (in order to 'keep the oneness'), everyone is free to disagree with the 'imperfect man' that is the Pope. (Granted, the last one was far more imperfect than most.)
A good Pope helps to keep everyone 'more' together (the same way a good pastor keeps a good local community together). And a bad Pope tends to let things decay.
Outside of of an (extremely rare) 'ex cathedra' pronouncement, the Pope has no power to 'unite everyone'. That's the job of the Holy Spirit.
Still, there are some who talk about the Pope as if he has the power of a dictator. They are quite mistaken.