Disagreeing with the Pope

He was not wrong in his teaching regarding faith and morals, rather Saint Peter was denounced by Saint Paul – as he relates in today’s first reading (Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14) – for a practical decision taken for pastoral reasons in the midst of a controversy.

At different times, Saint Paul himself would make similar decisions (going so far as to have his young protégé circumcised).

The important lesson of this incident for us, however, is not on a papal level (dissent on matters of faith and morals is wrong, of course, and few of us are on a level with Saint Paul the Apostle), but on a personal level.

We need always to consider ways in which we can present the Faith more effectively in the midst of controversy and ways in which we can make things easier for us to do the greater good, but we must also check ourselves constantly to make sure that the practical decisions we may make for “pastoral” reasons do not send a message contrary to the Truth.