What Are the Limits of Church Authority? Purgatory and AI

“What are the limits of Church authority?” This question opens a discussion on the role and boundaries of ecclesiastical power, while also addressing related topics such as the authority of the Bible versus Church tradition and the implications of using AI in homilies. Other questions touch on the origins of purgatory and the complexities of religious freedom in a diverse society.

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Questions Covered:

• 04:59 - What would be a good response to a Protestant asking why the Bible isn’t the final authority?
• 12:27 - Pope Leo said priests should not use AI to prepare homilies. Would the pope have authority to limit or govern the Church’s use of AI in the future?
• 19:17 - A Protestant might say that when the early church first started calling itself Catholic, that was really a “small c” kind of Catholic. It wasn’t really the Church united under a bishop of Rome. How do we respond to that?
• 23:25 - Where do we get the idea of purgatory?
• 30:36 - I am autistic. Are we able to use AI to study the scriptures?
• 36:39 - Why do we believe in religious freedom? It seems like that gives other religions a kind of tactical advantage? Why not just have the government say that everyone should be Christian?
• 42:01 - A priest told me questioning the authority of the Church is blasphemy. Is that really true? If that’s the case then how would you guys be able to have this discussion right now without blaspheming?
• 47:51 - Can you explain what’s going on with the SSPX right now? If the pope is the authority I don’t see why these bishops are disobeying him.