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SHoJjhmou
Guest
Is the Catechism infallible?
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Bookcat
Guest
Those parts that present infallible matters - yes. In other parts no. The level of teaching is different for various matters.
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Billy_Buescher
Guest
Hi,
I think you have a misconception of what infallible means.
A book cannot be infallible, the Bible is not infallible, the Bible is inherent Word of God, meaning it is without error, if interpreted correctly.
The Pope is infallible in faith and morals, only when he is sitting in the chair of Peter.
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pianistclare
Guest
Ex cathedra is a Latin phrase which means “from the chair.” It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world. The concept derives from Jesus.
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Linusthe2nd
Guest
Everything in the Catechism is a part of the Doctrine of the Church. You must believe it all. In other words, it is what the Holy Spirit teaches us through the Church. What he teaches we must believe. His word is Infallible, so what the Church teaches in the Catechism is Infallible.
Linus2nd
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Bookcat
Guest
No…
As I noted some things are infallible (those that were infallible before the Catechism existed) and others are of various other kinds of teachings. All is a “sure norm” for teaching the Catholic Faith.
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PaulfromIowa
Guest
No, that is certainly not correct and not the teaching of the Church. Everything in the Catechism is not doctrine or dogma. Some things in the Catechism are learned speculation and opinion. The Church makes no claim that everything in the Catechism is infallible or of the same weight.
As another poster noted, the Church does not even claim that every word in the Bible is infallible.
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SHoJjhmou
Guest
Sorry, I was asking not if the book itself was infallible, but if the Catechism was solely composed of infallible teachings.
But still, thanks for your answer (and everybody else’s
).I don’t want to hijack my own thread, but I thought of a new question while trying to learn more about the Catechism: can dogma develop like doctrine?
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Linusthe2nd
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Linusthe2nd
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The Catechism is a sure norm for teaching the Catholic faith. Therefore it must be believed and adhered to by all Catholics. In that sense it is Infallible.
Linus2nd
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thistle
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The Catechism per se is not infallible but it contains the infallible and non-infallible teachings of the Church plus disciplines.
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Bookcat
Guest
No.
That is NOT what that means.
Here Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers fame explains - providing the answer from the Future Pope Benedict XVI (the then head of the CDF):
jimmyakin.org/2005/02/ratzinger_on_th.html
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SHoJjhmou
Guest
“There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.”
I think this means that there are some things that you can disagree with the Catechism, and thus, the Catechism has some things that are not infallible.
Pope Benedict (as a Cardinal) said that you cannot reject the Catechism as a whole.
But there are some things that you can discuss legitimately, just not with infallible teachings.
Let’s apply this to the new encyclical.
When Francis talks about climate change, can you disagree with what he is saying about climate change being a real problem? (I personally haven’t read the encyclical yet
)
I think this means that there are some things that you can disagree with the Catechism, and thus, the Catechism has some things that are not infallible.
Pope Benedict (as a Cardinal) said that you cannot reject the Catechism as a whole.
But there are some things that you can discuss legitimately, just not with infallible teachings.
Let’s apply this to the new encyclical.
When Francis talks about climate change, can you disagree with what he is saying about climate change being a real problem? (I personally haven’t read the encyclical yet
)
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pianistclare
Guest
Francis is applying Catholic teaching and truths to things that occur in our world. People are permitted to have various opinions on this and the execution of the solutions to these various worldly problems. But the underlying message is a reiteration of what the Church teaches regarding equality, care of the earth, justice and dignity of all people.“There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.”
I think this means that there are some things that you can disagree with the Catechism, and thus, the Catechism has some things that are not infallible.
Pope Benedict (as a Cardinal) said that you cannot reject the Catechism as a whole.
But there are some things that you can discuss legitimately, just not with infallible teachings.
Let’s apply this to the new encyclical.
When Francis talks about climate change, can you disagree with what he is saying about climate change being a real problem? (I personally haven’t read the encyclical yet
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BlueKnight
Guest
I think infallibility was only invoked twice by popes.
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Bookcat
Guest
Such would be not correct…
Catholic Answers has various articles that can be helpful on this subject over on the main site.
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