I recently shared a segment clip from a podcast episode, in which I addressed a question from the audience, ‘Do laypeople have to obey the pope?” Naturally I started the post with that very question, as a way of introducing the clip I was posting a link to.

I knew this was going to raise some eyebrows. But I wasn’t expecting this.

I’ll let the exchange mostly speak for itself, with some additional insertions and explanations —Labeled, “Supplement” — that I think are important to the big picture, but not necessary for getting something out of the exchange proper. Try to pay very close attention to what’s being said in this exchange, because it’ll help guard you from falling into error somewhere in your personal Catholic adventure. I’ll abbreviate a bit, removing parts of it that aren’t pertinent or necessary.

Now let’s do this. Remember, the exchange started with the post’s intro, “Do laypeople have to obey the Pope?”