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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Petitioning the Pope	Chris	Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Question: I recently signed a petition to the Pope asking him to be more concise in his teachings on social issues. Now I am wracked with guilt, for who am I to tell the Pope what to do? Is it right for a lay person to sign such a petition? Thanks, and God Bless
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Note to everyone: I am way behind in answering questions due to health issues Once I get caught up I will try to keep up. I appreciate your prayers as my heart issues are further evaluated. Dear Chris: No need to feel guilty. Canon Law states that we have a right to petition and address our Sacred Pastors about things that concern us in the Church. Can. 212 §2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires. Thus, write letters, sign petitions, or other communication to our pastors, bishops, the Curia, and even the Pope. This is good and proper as long as one of respectful, with business-like demeanor in any letters, and addresses issues that are legitimate (e.g., asking the Pope to ordain women, for example, is not legitimate). God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Petitioning the Pope

Chris

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Question:

I recently signed a petition to the Pope asking him to be more concise in his teachings on social issues. Now I am wracked with guilt, for who am I to tell the Pope what to do? Is it right for a lay person to sign such a petition?

Thanks, and God Bless

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Note to everyone: I am way behind in answering questions due to health issues Once I get caught up I will try to keep up. I appreciate your prayers as my heart issues are further evaluated.

Dear Chris:

No need to feel guilty. Canon Law states that we have a right to petition and address our Sacred Pastors about things that concern us in the Church.

Can. 212 §2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

Thus, write letters, sign petitions, or other communication to our pastors, bishops, the Curia, and even the Pope. This is good and proper as long as one of respectful, with business-like demeanor in any letters, and addresses issues that are legitimate (e.g., asking the Pope to ordain women, for example, is not legitimate).

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum