Speaking for the dead

Over at Green Baggins, Evangelical convert to Rome Andrew Preslar has tried to argue for the papacy by applying the theory of development to the church fathers. But there are some basic problems with that strategy:

i) Not all developments in Catholic theology are consistent with tradition. For instance, current papal opposition to the death penalty is hardly consistent with Catholic tradition. Likewise, for Vatican II to say Muslims and pagans (e.g. Hindus, Buddhists) can be saved is hardly consistent with the claim that no one can be saved unless he’s in submission to the pope (a la Unam Sanctam).

ii) In addition, the church fathers weren’t prophets. They couldn’t foresee how later theologians would develop their statements. Therefore, you can’t backdate subsequent developments to the church fathers, as if they’d rubberstamp those developments.

Indeed, people often make shortsighted claims which they later qualify or retract if they live long enough to witness the unforeseeable results. They could not anticipate all the contingencies or consequences.