A rock so big...

[misterbee]

Here’s a totally un-realistic question:

What if a pope, while speaking ex cathedra, said he’s not infallible while speaking ex cathedra?

My mind is blown!

 

[thedavidwilson]

Here’s a totally un-realistic question:

What if a pope, while speaking ex cathedra, said he’s not infallible while speaking ex cathedra?

My mind is blown!

He would not do this because it would mean that the Church had contradicted itself on theological teaching. Which is impossible if you beleive the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and is the body of Christ. God cannot contradict himself.

Now if he was mentally ill or forced to say this then that would probably make the pronouncement null.

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

Here’s a totally un-realistic question:

What if a pope, while speaking ex cathedra, said he’s not infallible while speaking ex cathedra?

My mind is blown!

To get the real paradox, he’d declare infallibly that everything spoken infallibly and * ex cathedra * is wrong.

 

[drafdog]

This thread is on the wrong forum section. It belongs on the philosophy section.

That being said, you have here an example of a self-referential statement. This is akin to “This statement is false.” The statement is neither true nor false, it is simply nonsense. It has no meaning.
Just like the hint in your title: Can God create a rock He cannot lift. I wrote a brief article noting at least four cases in which God could in fact create a rock He couldn’t lift. But the whole excercise is silly.

Matthew

 

[MilesXpisti]

misterbee:

Here’s a totally un-realistic question:

What if a pope, while speaking ex cathedra, said he’s not infallible while speaking ex cathedra?

My mind is blown!

Now if he was mentally ill or forced to say this then that would probably make the pronouncement null.

Not a problem, when viewing the question in terms of the negative absolutism of infallibility; by believing manifestly and with full interior assent that the Pope does not enjoy infallibility when speaking ex cathedra, in protecting that infallibility, the ex-Pope by virtue of being a heretic immediately ceases to be the Pope, preserving the Chair from error.

 

[cam100]

That being said, you have here an example of a self-referential statement. This is akin to “This statement is false.” The statement is neither true nor false, it is simply nonsense. It has no meaning.
Just like the hint in your title: Can God create a rock He cannot lift. I wrote a brief article noting at least four cases in which God could in fact create a rock He couldn’t lift. But the whole excercise is silly.

Matthew

I think this is an excellent answer. But It doesn’t hurt to consider the question.

 

[Leopard]

I think this is an excellent answer. But It doesn’t hurt to consider the question.

I suppose not, but then having considered it, let it go. It certainly isn’t worth blowing one’s mind over.