Papal Infallibility

[Lost_Sheep]

I got into a discussion yesterday with one of my non-Catholic friends who tends to lean well into the liberal side of the political spectrum. We were on the discussion of the Synod whose proposal in that the Church should be more to gays and lesbians.

My friend (wrongly) believes that the Church has sanctioned gay “marriage” based on the Holy Father’s infamous “Who am I to judge?” quip. She thinks that since the pope is “infallible” that the Who am I to judge?" statement has automatically changed Church doctrine which, of course, is not true.

I politely suggested the she study up on the doctrine of infallibility before she makes such allegations; that it only applies to faith and morals, must be made Ex Cathedra, etc.

But it made me wonder. Is the doctrine of infallibility something that is invoked often, or is it a rare occasion?

 

[Stephen_says]

I got into a discussion yesterday with one of my non-Catholic friends who tends to lean well into the liberal side of the political spectrum. We were on the discussion of the Synod whose proposal in that the Church should be more to gays and lesbians.

My friend (wrongly) believes that the Church has sanctioned gay “marriage” based on the Holy Father’s infamous “Who am I to judge?” quip. She thinks that since the pope is “infallible” that the Who am I to judge?" statement has automatically changed Church doctrine which, of course, is not true.

I politely suggested the she study up on the doctrine of infallibility before she makes such allegations; that it only applies to faith and morals, must be made Ex Cathedra, etc.

But it made me wonder. Is the doctrine of infallibility something that is invoked often, or is it a rare occasion?

This is a great article:

uscatholic.org/church/2011/05/there-list-infallible-teachings

“There is no set list of ex cathedra teachings, but that’s because there are only two, and both are about Mary: her Immaculate Conception (declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854 and grandfathered in after the First Vatican Council’s declaration of papal infallibility in 1870) and her bodily Assumption into heaven (declared by Pope Pius XII in 1950).”

 

[Ad_Orientem]

This is a great article:

uscatholic.org/church/2011/05/there-list-infallible-teachings

…

No, it isn’t, it’s a *terrible *article, incomplete, imprecise, and misleading. He gets *some *things right, and to his credit he mentions binding teachings that are not necessarily infallible. But he seems to conflate “ex cathedra” with “infallible” (they overlap, but are not identical) and doesn’t mention the ordinary and extraordinary magisterium, or the fact that even the former can be infallible. In fine, there are far more than *two *infallible teachings of the Church.

@ Lost_Sheep: If your friend won’t hear reason, there is little you can do. Is it possible she just wants to disagree? If you want to study up for your own sake, I’d suggest starting with the Catholic Encyclopedia article “infallibility”.

 

[Yago]

Is the doctrine of infallibility something that is invoked often, or is it a rare occasion?

I dont think it is invoked often.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

@ Lost_Sheep: If your friend won’t hear reason, there is little you can do. Is it possible she just wants to disagree?

Sometimes, yes. She is pro-gay marriage, pro-abortion and pro-birth control; all the while proclaiming to be a “religious” person. She identifies herself as a Methodist.

She likes to quote Scripture when it suits her, but she puts her own interpretation on it and expects God to just nod in agreement.

 

[Yago]

She likes to quote Scripture when it suits her, but she puts her own interpretation on it and expects God to just nod in agreement.

You should say Heb 4 12 daily, for her then. That is what i do.