DS (and others), please expand on this thought:

[BluffTHIS!]

The edifice as you put it, can only be fundametally flawed by the use of far-fetched axioms, which are accepted without 100% proof, or by internal logical contradictions of various subsections of theology (which doesn't exist in catholic theology). I think that you will find that the catholic views I express are fully in line with catholic teaching represented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Of the catholic posters here, only Peter666 would disagree with some of my posts because he is a traditionalist catholic belonging to a sect that rejects most of Vatican II, especially regarding liturgical changes, which they view as doctrinal in nature.

Actually the protestant doctrine of the preisthood of all believers, with its assumption that all christians can validly interpret scripture, does not give them extra outs. It only leads to a continual process in time where there are more and more splits and disagreements, evidenced by the great variety of protestant denominations that hold contrary views on fundamental points of christian doctrine. Some of these denominations, like the episcopal, lutheran and methodist ones, are in many ways closer to the catholic church in theology than to the fundamentalist/calvinist based denominations. Thus protestant denominations lack an authentic interpreter of scripture and doctrine, and this leads to certain logical contradictions in their theology. You can search the archives for a couple threads I started entitled "A question for protestants" regarding these matters.

Regarding the pope reinterpreting theology, his ability to infallibly define doctrine, called an ex cathedra pronouncement, is not really creating new doctrine, but only more clearly defining doctrine that has always been believed, often through the 2nd source of reveleation, oral tradition, called Holy Tradition (as opposed to man-made traditions or customary practices). Also of course he might occasionally make lesser pronouncements, but also higly authoritative, clearly explaining catholic doctrine in regards to matters which have not come up in the past, such as changes in science and catholic ethics regarding it such human cloning for example. All of this is in contrast for example to the prophet and head of the council of elders of the mormon church, who by their doctrine can receieve new doctrinal revelations from God. Most christians including catholics, believe that all general revelation ceased with the death of the last apostle, although special reveleation could be given to an individuals which would not be official doctrine even if accepted as legitimate.