I mean they are supposed to obey. To use an example from the Bible, did Moses try to "address the doctrinal questions" of Korah and their ilk? Here is the thing, worship of God is not a democracy. It is an autocracy, you must obey God, and you must also obey those God has put in positions of authority.
There wasn't any doctrinal dispute - they were simply challenging Moses' authority, not accusing of giving teaching that contradicted his previous teaching (which would have been a problem!)
And Moses certainly didn't stand there going "but you're got to accept my authority over you because it comes from God and you must believe that because I say it and..." in a loop like the RCC does.
I mean if you are a Catholic who accepted the 1st Vatican council but not the 2nd it's not circular. Because they already fell into the trap by accepting papal infallibility.
Well there's the problem. If a "true Pope" cannot teach error, than someone who is teaching error cannot be a true Pope. That's the simple logic.
Of course the problem just goes away if they stop believing in the concept of an infallible pope.
I mean again Christianity is not about being a "free thinker" Like you can look at the Bible the faithful are described as a flock of sheep. What do sheep do, they follow. We are supposed to be sheeple heh. God does punish rebellion, so the sheep are expected to obey the shepherd, and those who are set to watch over the flock, but God also punished harshly false teachers who lead the sheep astray. Their punishment is much worse than one who simply sins. Leading others into sin is a compound sin, especially if you are in a position of authority.
Sheep get fleeced, and ultimately they are meat animals destined for the table. Don't push Biblical metaphors too far, or take isolated verses in a way that contradicts the rest of Scripture.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
The true "sheep" will exercise some discernment over whose voice they will follow!