Infallible documents

  • Thread starter Thread starter baylee
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

baylee

Guest
Can someone please clarify which documents, etc are infallible? The issue of infallibility confuses me especially when a number of writings, etc are referenced in these forums.

Thank you.
 
baylee said:
Can someone please clarify which documents, etc are infallible? The issue of infallibility confuses me especially when a number of writings, etc are referenced in these forums.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
And PS…shouldn’t all we need to know be in the Catechism?
 
baylee said:
And PS…shouldn’t all we need to know be in the Catechism?
Click to expand...
The CCC is a summary of all Church teachings.
Footnotes reference Scripture and other Church documents which underpin what is in the CCC.
 
There is no definitive list of documents that contain infallible teaching.

However, while still Prefect of the Holy Inquisition, then-Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) did release a partial list of various papal documents dating back for a very, very long time which he said fell under the papal infallibility rule prior to its formal definition at Vatican I.

Unfortunately, I have no idea where I would find that document. And I’m not even 100% sure I have all the details right.

So, practical answer: trust your Catechism, and, if you aren’t satisfied with its answers, consult its footnotes and pull out the documents it cites. It’s not infallible, but it is a sure norm.
 
I’m not aware of any distinctions the Church makes about ecumenical councils–they are ecumenical or they are not regardless of other adjectives (e.g. pastoral) appended to them.

Can you help clarify where you get the idea the Church distinguishes between, as you say, ecumenical and pastoral? Thanks.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top