Ordinary magsterium

[Ron_Conte]

I am finding that some Catholics believe and teach:
either that the ordinary magisterium is always infallible
or that it is non-infallible but still cannot err.
Some even insist on this as if it were required doctrine.

My understanding is that the Magisterium can teach infallibly in any of three ways:

1. Papal infallibility
2. Ecumenical Councils and similar gatherings of the body of Bishops with the Pope, when issuing Canons or definitions of doctrine
3. the ordinary and universal Magisterium

Otherwise, the Magsterium teaches under its ordinary fallible teaching authority, which is not likely to be wrong, but can occasionally err and be subject to later correction.

Some say that nearly every ordinary teaching falls under the ordinary and universal magisterium, so that almost all teachings are infallible. Others claim that the non-infallible teachings are also necessarily free from error.

I’m surprised that this basic doctrine about the Magisterium is so often misunderstood, and I’m dismayed that some teachers of the faith are teaching false doctrine.

What do you all say about this?

Ron