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What is the ordinary and universal teaching of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him?

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Final answer:

The ordinary and universal teaching of the Pope and bishops in communion with him is known as the magisterium, the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on faith and morals. Martin Luther challenged this concept with his notion of the priesthood of all believers and the equality of all baptized Christians.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ordinary and universal teaching of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him refers to the magisterium, or teaching authority, of the Roman Catholic Church. This traditional Catholic doctrine asserts that the Pope, in communion with the other bishops, holds the responsibility to authentically teach on matters of faith and morals, offering consistent guidance to the faithful. As part of this teaching authority, the Pope can pronounce dogmas, which are definitive teachings on faith or morals that all Catholics must hold as true. When the Pope, together with the bishops, does this, they are said to exercise the magisterium, which is the teaching office of the Church.

The provided quotes reference critiques of Church practices and structure, including Martin Luther's rejection of the notion that the Pope and bishops alone have spiritual authority. Luther argues for the priesthood of all believers, suggesting that every Christian has spiritual authority derived from faith and scripture, not ecclesiastical title or hierarchy. He criticizes the Catholic Church's teachings on the spiritual estate and asserts the religious equality of all baptized Christians, directly challenging the traditional understanding of clerical authority within the Church.

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