The pope in infallible, right? Is the pope the only thing that is infallible other than the Bible? What if they contradict? Since the Pope in infallible, wouldn't the people that elect him also have to be infallible? And wouldn't the First Vatican Council (of 1870) have to be infallible too, since they decided the Pope is infallible?
I'm just curious, that's all
2007-07-10 11:06:28 · 25 answers · asked by Liz 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The pope is only infallible when speaking with the full authority of his office (this has only been done twice). The language that is used is very direct when the pope speaks 'ex cathedra'. When he is teaching something in relation to faith and morals all Christians are bound to believe his teaching. Infallible does not mean that he will teach all truth, only that when speaking ex cathedra, he cannot teach error.
The Collage of Cardinals who elects the pope are also infallible when speaking with one voice. That is why the councils and conclaves are also infallible.
2007-07-10 11:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by infinity 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
*Is Catholic*
Yes the pope is infallible.
The bible is not infallible. The bible is INERRANT. They are different things.
The election of the Pope is not infallible. The Church can elect bad Popes and it has.
Yes Vatican I is infallible because it is ratified by the Pope. It is also infallible in the sense of being a exercise of the Extrordianry Infallibility of the Magisterium.
2007-07-11 17:30:57 · answer #2 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to be technically correct, in Catholic dogma the Pope is not infallible, but can act infallibly. Of course, so can you. If you simply say "Jesus Christ is True God of True God and True Man of True Man," then you are acting infallibly.
When the pope acts, the evidence that it is infallible is that it is promulgated as such, agrees with the apostolic tradition to the beginning, is in union with the body of bishops (the pope isn't being heretical or schismatic and everyone agrees with him), is received by the faithful (the laity think he is right) and he is acting in his role as successor to Peter.
Councils can also act infallibly. The apostolic council in the book of Acts is the first such council. There have probably been around 1000 episcopal synods and councils in 2000 years both local and global. Only a few of them have done anything considered infallible.
Second, the bible is not considered "infallible," in the same sense. You can prove anything from the bible. It is a source document, not a derivative document. It doesn't need the protection of infallibility as it is an explicit part of the apostolic tradition and not derived from it. It is something to be prayed over and not used as a proof text to prove something from. It supports belief, but isn't belief.
Finally, it is Catholic teaching that only God is infallible, but he lends his infallibility to His Church. To use Jesus' words to Peter, "What you bind on Earth is bound in Heaven and what you loose on Earth is loosed in Heaven."
2007-07-10 20:21:28 · answer #3 · answered by OPM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Doctrine of Infallibility is widely misunderstood. It does not mean that every word that comes out of the Pope's mouth is correct. It does not mean that the Pope is sinless. It does mean that on matters of the faith the Pope is the final authority. Catholicism does not have any mechanism to respectfully disagree with the Pope's teaching.
Infallibility has only been invoked twice. Once was to give the Pope infallibility. The other was to formalize the belief in the immaculate conception of Mary.
2007-07-10 18:18:39 · answer #4 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
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 is called "ex cathedra", literally meaning in Latin "from the chair".
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 wrong or sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-11 01:20:36 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What you are asking is, What if GOD contradicts himself?
Who is infallible, a man? a book? . .. only GOD is infallible.
Why is the Pope infallible, because JESUS is the HEAD of the CHURCH. Led in the HOLY SPIRIT we have the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the CHURCH.
The Bible is infallible because it was written by GOD.
The Pope is infalllible because of the HOLY SPIRIT, because of JESUS CHRIST, because of GOD OUR FATHER.
Now how can GOD contradict himself? Obviously GOD can't.
Inicidentally the Bible is infallible only in matters of faith and morals, not as a science or history text book, history has proven that. Such as the scopes monkey trial. And the Pope makes only this claim as well, that when he makes a statement in the name of GOD it is considered infallible, incontravertable TRUTH as infallible as the Bible.
-LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Amen.
2007-07-10 18:26:15 · answer #6 · answered by jesusfreakstreet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The doctrine of Papal infallibility means this:
The Catholic Church teaches that, when the Pope is speaking in his capacity as Pope on a matter of faith and morals, he says exactly what God would say on the subject if God were speaking directly.
Other than that, the Pope is no different from any other man chosen at random.
2007-07-10 18:13:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
The Pope it is not infallible, he is an heretic because he declares himself infallible
2007-07-11 05:08:42 · answer #8 · answered by lia.m 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Infallibility is very misunderstood
In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility. By a "supernatural sense of faith" the People of God, under the guidance of the Church's living Magisterium, "unfailingly adheres to this faith."
"The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. . . . The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium," above all in an Ecumenical Council. When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine "for belief as being divinely revealed," and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to with the obedience of faith." This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself.
2007-07-10 18:20:59 · answer #9 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
He is infallible when proclaiming doctrine but, he is subject to the free will thing personally just like anybody else and can sin and does go to confession like all of the faithful. The Lord prevents him from teaching false doctrine though. "The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her" is what the Lord said about his Church.
2007-07-10 18:45:43 · answer #10 · answered by Midge 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋