Question on Infallibility

[rben20]

Hello Catholic Brethren,

I am in need of some clarification on the issue of infallibility because I have been confused greatly on the subject. Where does infallibility lie? Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it is with the Church, Scripture, Pope, and the Church’s Councils correct? Am I missing anything? Also if all these are infallible, when do we know what they are saying is infallible and what is just opinion? Is the Church’s position on contraception and abortion infallible? Would it be wrong to disagree with the Pope on certain things (not that I do…I actually agree with him on everything he has mentioned…he is after all our shepherd ) since what he voices is infallible? As you can see I’m pretty mixed up on a lot of this after debating with non-catholics. All I could answer for sure is that anything spoken ex-cathedra which has only been used twice is infallible and must be accepted as a deposit of the Faith. Thank you all for your answers.

 

[Trishie]

Dear rben20, I hope you find clarification in these sites

catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

newadvent.org/cathen/07790a.htm

papalencyclicals.net/Councils/ecum20.htm

 

[Domnall]

I’ve got a question along these lines. Are all papal bulls infallible or can they be overturned by a future Pope? So, is it only when a dogma is proclaimed that something is infallible?

 

[Jesus_123]

. . . :coffeeread: . . .
PAPAL INFALLIBILITY

+Papal infallibility is the dogma in Roman Catholic theology that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error [1]** when he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals as being contained in divine revelation, or at least being intimately connected to divine revelation**. It is also taught that the Holy Spirit works in the body of the Church, as sensus fidelium, to ensure that dogmatic teachings proclaimed to be infallible will be received by all Catholics. This dogma, however, **does not **state either that the Pope cannot sin in his own personal life or that he is necessarily free of error, even when speaking in his official capacity, outside the specific contexts in which the dogma applies.

This doctrine was defined dogmatically in the First Vatican Council of 1870. According to Catholic theology, there are several concepts important to the understanding of infallible, divine revelation: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Sacred Magisterium. The infallible teachings of the Pope are part of the Sacred Magisterium, which also consists of ecumenical councils and the “ordinary and universal magisterium”. In Catholic theology, papal infallibility is one of the channels of the infallibility of the Church. The infallible teachings of the Pope must be based on, or at least not contradict, Sacred Tradition or Sacred Scripture. Papal infallibility does not signify that the Pope is impeccable, i.e…, that he is specially exempt from liability to sin.

In practice, popes seldom use their power of infallibility, but rely on the notion that the Church allows the office of the pope to be the ruling agent in deciding what will be accepted as formal beliefs in the Church. [2] Since the solemn declaration of Papal Infallibility by Vatican I on July 18, 1870, this power has been used only once ex cathedra: in 1950 when Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary as being an article of faith for Roman Catholics. Prior to the solemn definition of 1870, Pope Pius IX, with the support of the overwhelming majority of Roman Catholic bishops, had proclaimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary an ex cathedra dogma in December 1854.

- Wapedia​

*(Click on the link below for further information . . .) *

:compcoff: Link: wapedia.mobi/en/Ex_cathedra

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+​

 

[diggerdomer]

Hello Catholic Brethren,

I am in need of some clarification on the issue of infallibility because I have been confused greatly on the subject. Where does infallibility lie? Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it is with the Church, Scripture, Pope, and the Church’s Councils correct? Am I missing anything? Also if all these are infallible, when do we know what they are saying is infallible and what is just opinion? Is the Church’s position on contraception and abortion infallible? Would it be wrong to disagree with the Pope on certain things (not that I do…I actually agree with him on everything he has mentioned…he is after all our shepherd ) since what he voices is infallible? As you can see I’m pretty mixed up on a lot of this after debating with non-catholics. All I could answer for sure is that anything spoken ex-cathedra which has only been used twice is infallible and must be accepted as a deposit of the Faith. Thank you all for your answers.

Infallibility is a gift to the Church. It is exercised by the Magiserium (Pope and Bishops) yet also includes the faithful. Read the Vatican II Council’s dogmatic constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium (specifically para 12, 18-25).

Most things that Popes teach are not taught infallibly. That doesn’t mean we’re simply free to disagree with them.

Hope this helps.