"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Quote by Lord Acton.
Lord Acton - the great English scholar and historian and a Catholic himself - condemned the recent (1871) teaching and the doctrine of so-called "Papal Infallibility".
Is there any institution in history that the wisdom of this quote applies to more than the Papacy?
If we look at the historical evolution of the Papacy and its involvement in the Feudal System we can see that the answer could well be "No. There is no other."
Once the concept of the Papacy was born - was this the only way it could head? is another question.
When did the Papacy emerge as an institution?, is another question.
When did it stop being the Bishop of Rome, and when did it become something more?
Is there one specific moment one could focus on?
Because of course it evolved as a powerful institution!
Lord Acton - the great English scholar and historian and a Catholic himself - condemned the recent (1871) teaching and the doctrine of so-called "Papal Infallibility".
Is there any institution in history that the wisdom of this quote applies to more than the Papacy?
If we look at the historical evolution of the Papacy and its involvement in the Feudal System we can see that the answer could well be "No. There is no other."
Once the concept of the Papacy was born - was this the only way it could head? is another question.
When did the Papacy emerge as an institution?, is another question.
When did it stop being the Bishop of Rome, and when did it become something more?
Is there one specific moment one could focus on?
Because of course it evolved as a powerful institution!