Much of the literature on whether a pope could become a heretic gets
tangled up in the question of public vs. private error. It always lands
one back with the saying, Ecclesia de occultis non iudicate. (I could
dig up a reference to Kuttner's article if need be, but my canon law
books mostly are at home right now.) Having wrestled with these
questions for years has given me a lively sympathy for Nicholas Eymeric's
reply to the question what to do if the pope became a heretic: I leave
that one to the cardinals.
tom izbicki
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