Integrity of Ecumenical Councils

[Alexius]

First question: According to the Catholic Church, how much of an Ecumenical Council is infallible?

For instance, the First Lateran Council declared that priests may not be married. First, I assume that other than the exception for Eastern churches, this is binding forever. Am I correct?

How about some of the laws enacted against Jews and Muslims? I think I also recall that the First Ecumenical Council forbiding kneeling on Sundays. This is somewhat confusing…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[JMBNH]

As far as I know they are binding on doctrine and morals (obviously assuming ratification by the Pope) but disciplinary/ Church practice matters are changeable as they are even for Eastern Churches (when was the last time an apostate returning got a 12 year penance?). Thus the examples named are subject to change, as was the ban on blood and strangled animals at what could be classed as the first Ecumenical Council (though I believe this still stands in Eastern Churches?). Priestly celibacy is subject to change certainly, though whether in the Latin Rite it ever will I do not know. Sometimes it is hard to know where the line is drawn though between doctrine and practice which is why the women not being able to be priests had to be defined as doctrine recently

 

[Alexius]

OK, thank you. I wasn’t sure how much of the declarations were binding for all time, but this helps.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

First question: According to the Catholic Church, how much of an Ecumenical Council is infallible?

For instance, the First Lateran Council declared that priests may not be married. First, I assume that other than the exception for Eastern churches, this is binding forever. Am I correct?

How about some of the laws enacted against Jews and Muslims? I think I also recall that the First Ecumenical Council forbiding kneeling on Sundays. This is somewhat confusing…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

All Doctrinal or Dogmatic canons of Ecumenical Councils when ratified by the Bishop of Rome are infallible.

Disciplinary canons are not and can be modified by the Bishop of Rome or another Council at any time.