Can the Church be wrong?

[Kullervo]

Our Lord Jesus gave the apostels authority so that they could decide when there were questions. Is it possible that the Church could decide some things wrongly and teach something which isn’t in accordance with what our Lord Jesus would affirm?
I’m not sugesting that this happened. I’m just curious if we can really rely on everything the Church teaches.

 

[Dougbro1]

Well, if the church teaches something wrong, then it would teach heresy. If it taught heresy, then the gates of Hell would have prevailed against the Church. Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church, so clearly this is not the case.

 

[Fauken]

Is it possible that the Church could decide some things wrongly and teach something which isn’t in accordance with what our Lord Jesus would affirm?

The Church cannot err in matters of Faith nor morals. It’s impossible for it to teach something erroneous as infallible.

 

[Usagi]

However, individual bishops, or even the private opinions of the Pope, are not so protected. There has to be an intent to settle a matter for the whole Church, and it must pertain to theological or moral truth. Matters of organization, the details of worship beyond what is required, and everyday customs and rules can change in different places and times and aren’t the sort of thing that can be made permanent.

 

[TheLittleLady]

The Church could have a non-doctrinal , non faith or morals, stand that is wrong.

She is protected when speaking on faith or morals, not on sports teams or etiquette or science.

 

[Pitcairn17]

For centuries the Church permitted - at least condoned - slavery, citing Biblical precedent. The Church forced the Jews of Rome to live only in one restricted area - the first getto. Were these not actions of the Church? We’re they wrong?

 

[thistle]

Our Lord Jesus gave the apostels authority so that they could decide when there were questions. Is it possible that the Church could decide some things wrongly and teach something which isn’t in accordance with what our Lord Jesus would affirm?
I’m not sugesting that this happened. I’m just curious if we can really rely on everything the Church teaches.

In matters of faith and morals its doctrines cannot be in error.

 

[po18guy]

It has been under the microscope for 1,986 years! I think her doctrines have been pretty well vetted.

Are you considering conversion? Questioning your faith? If so, what brought this on?

 

[LilyM]

For centuries the Church permitted - at least condoned - slavery, citing Biblical precedent. The Church forced the Jews of Rome to live only in one restricted area - the first getto. Were these not actions of the Church? We’re they wrong?

“The Church” did this? As in said so as a dogmatic or doctrinal teaching intended to be applicable to all Christians for all time? As in the Pope or a Church council said (or wrote) “if anyone anywhere ever believes that slavery is wrong, or that putting Jews in ghettos is wrong, let them be anathema” or the equivalent?

Read up on the Magisterium and Infallibilty - you will find it is quite narrowly defined.

 

[Kullervo]

I have a very inquisitive mind, I’m constantly questioning my faith and arguing with myself. I feel the need to be very certain in my Catholic faith, because otherwise it could maybe be to weak to survive hard times I’m going through.

 

[Nihilo]

The Church could have a non-doctrinal , non faith or morals, stand that is wrong.

She is protected when speaking on faith or morals, not on sports teams or etiquette or science.

Seconded.

Take for example politics, and legal theory. The Magisterium has no charism of infallibility in such matters, only in matters of faith and morals are they preserved from making any error when authoritatively teaching authentic Apostolic teaching. This is taken to denote the same identical things as whenever the successor of St. Peter teaches ex cathedra.

So in these matters (“faith or morals”), no, the Church cannot be wrong, it would constitute the gates of hell prevailing against her in at least one sense.