Pope Fires his Chief Astronomer

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Naturally - a Catholic one.

I'm surprised you ask.

Really? Is theological purity also required of the dishwashers and maids employed by the Vatican?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Really? Is theological purity also required of the dishwashers and maids employed by the Vatican?

Come to it, "theological purity" is required of every human being on the planet...

But, as to "dishwashers and maids", I believe the answer would still be yes -- considering that most (all?) of them are consecrated/religious/clerics.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Come to it, "theological purity" is required of every human being on the planet...

But, as to "dishwashers and maids", I believe the answer would still be yes -- considering that most (all?) of them are consecrated/religious/clerics.

Incorrect, as usual.

There are also about 3,000 lay workers who comprise the majority of the Vatican work force, but who reside outside the Vatican.

http://fixedreference.org/2006-Wikipedia-CD-Selection/wp/v/Vatican_City.htm

So the question is; is it a requirement of the Vatican and the RCC in general that everybody employed by it hew to the theological principles espoused by the Church?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Incorrect, as usual.

There are also about 3,000 lay workers who comprise the majority of the Vatican work force, but who reside outside the Vatican.

http://fixedreference.org/2006-Wikipedia-CD-Selection/wp/v/Vatican_City.htm

So the question is; is it a requirement of the Vatican and the RCC in general that everybody employed by it hew to the theological principles espoused by the Church?

Lay doesn't mean non-Catholic, it simply means non-clergy.

Besides, that point is irrelevant. For official Vatican posts, it seems obvious to me that they would need to be Catholic.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Come to it, "theological purity" is required of every human being on the planet...

But, as to "dishwashers and maids", I believe the answer would still be yes -- considering that most (all?) of them are consecrated/religious/clerics.

Let me see if I understand this (I’m not being sarcastic; and if I’m right, you already know the strength of my disagreement, so there won’t be much else for me to say)—

(1) Only qualified theologians should theologize—and then cautiously.

(2) The conclusions (even the questions?) of such theologians need to be approved by the Church (i.e., Pope and councils—or designees thereof), at least in terms of containing no errors (with some room for open questions, not settled by dogma).

(3) Everyone else must simply accept the results of this process, or risk danger to their immortal soul.

In other words, everyone except the approved theologians is simply to believe as they’re told—that is, in matters of theology, simply to submit to the teachings of the church?

(Note: I do recall our old discussions about freedom-from-authority versus freedom-within-authority, so we don’t really need to revisit that.)

Originally posted by Palynka
Lay doesn't mean non-Catholic, it simply means non-clergy.

Besides, that point is irrelevant. For official Vatican posts, it seems obvious to me that they would need to be Catholic.

I know what lay means.

Why? Does being Catholic make you a better dishwasher, maid or astronomer?

Originally posted by no1marauder
I know what lay means.

Why? Does being Catholic make you a better dishwasher, maid or astronomer?

If you knew what it meant, you'd knew it didn't support your point.

I doubt being simply a maid is an official post of the Catholic Church.

As for the astronomer, of course it must be someone Catholic. My guess is that you haven't even stopped to think why the Vatican needs astronomers. I'm sure now you'll understand.

Originally posted by no1marauder
I know what lay means.

Why? Does being Catholic make you a better dishwasher, maid or astronomer?

I know what lay means.
Perhaps if it happened more often for you, you wouldn't be so gosh-darned cantankerous.

Originally posted by vistesd
Let me see if I understand this (I’m not being sarcastic; and if I’m right, you already know the strength of my disagreement, so there won’t be much else for me to say)—

(1) Only qualified theologians should theologize—and then cautiously.

(2) The conclusions (even the questions?) of such theologians need to be approved by the Church (i.e., Pope and ...[text shortened]... reedom-from-authority versus freedom-within-authority, so we don’t really need to revisit that.)

This also reminds me of the discussion between LH and me where my view was that what defines a religion is what the bulk of followers claim to believe and not what the scholarly write and believe.

Originally posted by Palynka
If you knew what it meant, you'd knew it didn't support your point.

I doubt being simply a maid is an [b]official post of the Catholic Church.

As for the astronomer, of course it must be someone Catholic. My guess is that you haven't even stopped to think why the Vatican needs astronomers. I'm sure now you'll understand.[/b]

Why must an astronomer at an observatory owned by the RCC (in Arizona, no less) have to be a Catholic? Answer the question; avoid question begging by labelling this job or that job as "official".

Originally posted by no1marauder
Why must an astronomer at an observatory owned by the RCC (in Arizona, no less) have to be a Catholic? Answer the question; avoid question begging by labelling this job or that job as "official".

You don't know why the Vatican wants the Director of the Vatican Observatory to be a Catholic?

Think for a minute.

Originally posted by Palynka
You don't know why the Vatican wants the Director of the Vatican Observatory to be a Catholic?

Think for a minute.

Answer the question, nitwit; they WANT everybody to be a Catholic, but why is it NECESSARY for their astronomer to be a Catholic (and have a certain set of beliefs as well)?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Answer the question, nitwit; they WANT everybody to be a Catholic, but why is it NECESSARY for their astronomer to be a Catholic (and have a certain set of beliefs as well)?

I only humour clowns in the General Forum.

Originally posted by Palynka
I only humour clowns in the General Forum.

You're being a clown and adding nothing to the discussion by your persistent refusal to address the point raised.

Originally posted by no1marauder
You're being a clown and adding nothing to the discussion by your persistent refusal to address the point raised.

Do you agree that the RCC wants the astronomer to be Catholic?