1) The "pope" is irrelevant, since the "pope" never led my Church.
2) The "pope" is merely the errant Bishop of Rome. ...
I was born and raised a Roman Catholic. I would say that the Pope is not irrelevant, especially to those faithful peoples who use his guidance in their churches, even if he never lead your church. Would you want to have others use the same language that you use herein to describe your spiritual leader?
Bryan,...When it comes to my Church, the "pope" is irrelevant. Do you consider Oral Roberts to be relevant to the doctrines of the "Roman" Catholic Communion?
Once again, the study of the Trivium would assist here. Your original statement was that the Pope was irrelevant. This is a false statement. To justify your statement, you changed your argument to include his relevance to your church. This change does not negate the disrespect you showed in your second statement: The "pope" is merely the errant Bishop of Rome. To further muddy the water, you made effort to redirect my focus toward nothing to do with your original statment and veil it as relevant. Your question makes no sense to me other than you trying to out run your accountability for your disrespect for a fellow man who worked hard to obtain the position he now holds.
You know, of course, that your attitudes and opinions reflect who you are inside - your core. Do you think that you are the right kind of man to petition and be accepted by an organization whose principles are that of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth? Especially when you will at times be sharing the Lodge with men whose Faith is clearly not yours? Such men, and those they surround themselves with, will hold you to a higher standard than that of the one which you currently hold yourself to now. If you are fortunate, and they accept you; be prepared for what is to come.
BTW - One such example of accountability is responding straightforwardly and not avoiding questions posed. Would you want to have others use the same language that you use herein to describe your spiritual leader?
Can you do the right thing here?
Coach N