i'm a roman catholic and i ought to know the meaning of the word 'INFALABLE'
2006-08-07 23:50:41 · 10 answers · asked by r.kellie 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is infallible at closely defined times.
The Pope is only infallible when he, in union with the body of bishops, solemnly teaches that a doctrine as true.
This comes from the words of Jesus to Peter (the first Pope) and the Apostles (the first bishops), "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18) and "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16).
At all other times the Pope can be just as sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.
With love in Christ.
2006-08-08 18:31:58 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Catholic doctrine, the Pope cannot say anything wrong on matters of faith and doctrine when he speaks 'ex cathedra' (meaning 'from the chair').
So if he's caught in a contradiction, or changing the teachings of a previous pope, well then, he just wasn't speaking ex cathedra.
This wasn't "official doctrine" until 1860; in fact, in the Campbell-Purcell debate of 1837, "Bishop" Purcell said that the idea of the Pope being infallible was hogwash, and no Catholic ever believed such a thing.
2006-08-08 02:37:46 · answer #2 · answered by flyersbiblepreacher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like many others said, it means he can't make a mistake.
Originally, the Catholic doctrine was that the Pope was infalable only when speaking from his throne or "Pope chair".
Later, they changed the doctrine to say he was infalable all the time.
This contradicts scripture which says that man is a falable creature no matter what position they hold.
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
You have to read the whole chapter to get it in context, but basically, it is saying that the Word of God is true and who we are as people are fallable. If we speak the Word of God, then we are speaking truth, but if we speak with our own philosophies, then we are lying.
The Pope's position in general is in contradiction to scripture. The original title was "Pontimus Maximus" or "The great bridge builder". The bridge they were talking about is a bridge between man and God. That is what the Holy Spirit is for and man cannot claim that position.
There shouldn't be such a position. It is OK to have a leader of a church, but not one that claims his word is equal to the Word of God. That is the doctrine of a cult.
I don't mean to be so harsh, but I used to be Catholic and this is one of many reasons I left that religion and became born again.
2006-08-08 00:26:58 · answer #3 · answered by IL Padrino 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Infallibility belongs in a special way to the pope as head of the bishops (Matt. 16:17–19; John 21:15–17). As Vatican II remarked, it is a charism the pope "enjoys in virtue of his office, when, as the supreme shepherd and teacher of all the faithful, who confirms his brethren in their faith (Luke 22:32), he proclaims by a definitive act some doctrine of faith or morals. Therefore his definitions, of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church, are justly held irreformable, for they are pronounced with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, an assistance promised to him in blessed Peter."
The infallibility of the pope is not a doctrine that suddenly appeared in Church teaching; rather, it is a doctrine which was implicit in the early Church. It is only our understanding of infallibility which has developed and been more clearly understood over time. In fact, the doctrine of infallibility is implicit in these Petrine texts: John 21:15–17 ("Feed my sheep . . . "), Luke 22:32 ("I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail"), and Matthew 16:18 ("You are Peter . . . ").
For more:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp
2006-08-08 00:06:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Infallible" means 'unable to fail' and it is the ultimate patriarchal ego trip.
This means that no matter what he says, he cannot be wrong. If it seems wrong, then wrong is right and right is wrong, because he is infallible!
After you read the history of the popes, you think about 'infallibility' and you will understand how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
2006-08-07 23:59:52 · answer #5 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When the Pope sits in the chair of Peter at the Vatican he is supposed to speak for God, and therefore anything that he says is automatically true. The Pope is human---believe what you will.
2006-08-07 23:57:54 · answer #6 · answered by Preacher 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The word is infallible and it means the pope is God.
It means incapable of making a mistake, or "perfect."
2006-08-07 23:54:14 · answer #7 · answered by Left the building 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means that he cannot make a mistake because he is a representative of God. It is your choice whether or not u believe that but I think your religion says u should believe it. Check with your priest or another church worker.
2006-08-07 23:55:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The devil wears Prada shoes...so does the Pope...make what you will of that!
2006-08-07 23:57:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means cannot make errors, he cannot fail in his job. A load of crap another words.
2006-08-07 23:56:11 · answer #10 · answered by John R 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋