- teaching that the church can not err. (if this is so, why did john
paul 11 apologize for the inquisition, among other contradictions)
John Paul II apologizes for the sins committed by Catholics. Infallibility in the Catholic is limited only to teaching “EX CATHEDRA” from the Chair of Peter when he speaks moral and faith issues. The Pope cannot err when he teaches from his Chair.
And there are no contradictions. I do find contradictions in many Protestant doctrines that was developed by men. The Doctrine of faith alone and Bible alone. We can discuss that in another thread, which I am willing to provide you.
Infallibility is not the same as impeccable (that means always perfect)
- although the official teaching is that mary is venerated and honored, but not adored and worshiped, she is both adored and worshiped by many catholics with no reproof.
The belief can be in Patristic sources or Early Church Fathers, many of whom were taught by the Apostles themselves.
St. Ireneaus said;
“For as Eve was seduced by the word of an angel to flee from God, having rebelled against His Word, so Mary by the word of an angel received the glad tidings that she would bear God by obeying his Word. The former was seduced to disobey God, but the latter was persuaded to obey God, so that the Virgin Mary might become the advocate of the virgin Eve. As the human race was subjected to death through [the act of] a virgin, so it was saved by a virgin.” Irenaeus, Against Heresies, V:19,1 (A.D. 180).
“Under your mercy we take refuge, O Mother of God. Do not reject our supplications in necessity, but deliver us from danger,[O you] alone pure and alone blessed.” Sub Tuum Praesidium, From Rylands Papyrus, Egypt (3rd century).
“Let, then, the life of Mary be as it were virginity itself, set forth in a likeness, from which, as from a mirror, the appearance of chastity and the form of virtue is reflected… Nor would I hesitate to admit you to the altars of God, whose souls I would without hesitation call altars, on which Christ is daily offered for the redemption of the body. For if the virgin’s body be a temple of God, what is her soul, which, the ashes, as it were, of the body being shaken off, once more uncovered by the hand of the Eternal Priest, exhales the vapor of the divine fire. Blessed virgins, who emit a fragrance through divine grace as gardens do through flowers, temples through religion, altars through the priest.” Ambrose, On Virginity II:6,18 (A.D. 378).
“Recalling these and other circumstances and imploring the Virgin Mary to bring assistance, since she, too, was a virgin and had been in danger, she entrusted herself to the remedy of fasting and sleeping on the ground.” Gregory of Nazianzen, Oration 24:11 (A.D. 379).
- scholastic philosophy and its reliance on human reason to explain (or try to explain) the things of god, and the codifying of such reasonings as dogma and canon law.
Paul himself debated with Greeks in his days, and Greeks then were well known for their philosophy. Certain aspect of philosophy can be used to explain the existence of God by reasoning.
Dogma were develop over time. A term used called developmental doctrines. Like the doctrine of the Trinity. Canon Law is use to bring order when dealing with very difficult issue involving Church Law such as annulments, the validity of marriage, and so forth.
