In 601, Gregory, the Bishop of Rome, there was no singular "Pope" back then and would not be for another 100 years, deferred to the Emperor in Constantinople. In addition for the previous 500 plus years decisions were made by Councils, including Bishops, no Cardinals for again another 400 years. It was a Councillor Church. However there was always tension between Emperor and Bishops. From Constantine, to Justinian and beyond, the Emperors dictated much Church doctrine. Nicaea is an example as is the Arian controversy. The Bishop of Rome, senior amongst Bishops but equal as well, was elected by the people of Rome. Thus we see a Church making decisions based on councils of learned Bishops, often with vicious infighting, and Bishops being elected in a democratic manner.
Then by 1348 the now Pope was in Avignon, a captive of the French King, Rome was a mess and Ockham declared the Pope a heretic. He may have had a point. But I leave that for another day.
The in 1870 at the First Vatican Council, Pius IX squeezes through the "doctrine" of infallibility. Namely the "Pope" can never be wrong in faith or morals. One wonders when that really started and why it took two millennia.
Now as The Hill reports:
Catholic bishops who voted to advance an effort that could deny President Biden Communion over his stance on abortion are being accused of hypocrisy by critics of the decision. Biden, just the second Catholic U.S. president in history, regularly goes to church and touts his faith as a deeply personal aspect of his life. Yet the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted last week to proceed with drafting a formal statement on the meaning of Communion, which will include whether pro-choice politicians such as Biden should be denied it. The decision runs counter to the wishes of Pope Francis and has put the church at the center of a roiling debate over Biden, abortion and Catholicism. It has also invited comparisons to former President Trump, with critics of the vote pointing in outrage to examples where Trump was not aligned with the church.
Now the Church has rules and Councils of Bishops have precedence. Break the rules and you are out of the club. One can say, "Remember Avignon". Perhaps that may concern the current Bishop of Rome.
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