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The Catholic Church remains one of the longest lasting institutions that does not operate as a democracy. Individual members of the Church are not given an option to vote on matters of faith and morals, or even elect the next pope.
Instead, the Catholic Church is led by the Holy Spirit, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains.
More specifically, it is the magisterium of the Church whom the Holy Spirit guides in order to protect the deposit of faith.
The Church did not make up Catholic teaching, but only passed on what she had received from God. This is why the magisterium cannot function like a democracy and simply take a poll to see which teachings are good, and which ones need to be dropped.
The truth is unchangeable as it comes from God, not humans.
The 2021-2023 Synod on Synodality affirms this central belief, as it notes in its preparatory document.
After the Second Vatican Council, St. Paul VI lamented that many Catholics thought that the Council changed Church doctrine, when it did not.
Since the Catholic Church is a divine institution and not a human one, it will never become a democracy. The Church protects and guards the truth, making sure that it is passed on to the next generation.
