Ag_of_08 said:
Someone mind summing up the Vatican II controversy without a huge bias to it? Or have an article that lays the basics out in a way that a non catholic with an understanding of their church hierarchy, but not well schooled in specific doctrine l, might understand?
I truthfully have tried to research the topic, but it's a little like looking for articles about british politics that aren't so biased you can tell in five words. OP if it's a problem I'll start a new thread on it as well.
I think it's all related/relevant under the question I asked in the OP, so don't start a new thread on my account.
I'm studying a lot of these historical dynamics for the first time myself and it's fascinating. I long ago realized the farce of differing institutions of men claiming mutually exclusive access to mysteries that they all admit to being inexplicable.
I do believe Christ initiated His church to foster the presence of the Holy Spirit here on earth and guide us to bring about His will, but following all of the twists and turns and knowing who to believe at any one point is quite the leap of faith, if you'll pardon the pun.
One description I ran across recently of how the liturgy/policy/dogma/magesterium changes within the RCC sounds a lot like a good way to sugar coat cognitive dissonance. First, you recognize and praise the old practice, then you talk at length how the new practice is really accomplishing the same thing, only better, then you act as though the old practice never occurred at all so you don't have to consider why they don't reconcile.
Vatican II is a very obvious case-in-point and the Amazon synod stuff along with changes around marriage and family suspected by the folks at the head of these decisions sound like they are cut from the same cloth.
It all rather makes the standard Catholic criticism of polyglot Protestant belief rather hollow. While any one officially approved approach may be sanctioned at any one time, you never know what will change at the next council or synod; to say nothing of differences implicitly accepted without sanction or what has been lost in between.