Second Ecumenical council and Papacy

[Gmsod]

I have heard that in the second council Rome wasn’t even considered and was told afterwards that the council had already been decided. Was this a mistake on part of the other people there or (obviously y’all won’t choose this option) was the bishop of Rome not considered necessary for a council as today? Thanks

GOD bless!

 

[Gerhard2]

Well, the First Council of Constantinople reaffirmed the first (Nicaea) and condemned some heresies. Acholius was to table Pope Damasus’ demands. I’m not sure of the reasons, but councils can take even years, and take into account the subjects.

Let’s take into account also that the Church rulings could be propositions of faith, that are divine truths which Catholics are expected to believe; moral propositions, that define how God expects people to behave or disciplinary pronouncements, related to the ways in which the Church requires Her members to behave (like the commandments of the Church). Propositions of faith and morals are always true and once authoritatively defined, never change. The Church does not create “new truths” but takes the truths that we know from divine revelation and pronounce upon their implications and applications under practical circumstances.

Papal infallibility refers to a divine gift that keeps him from defining something erroneous when he pronounces himself extraordinarily in his capacity as supreme head of the Church on a matter of faith or morals which is to be believed by all who wish to be members of the Church. This is infrequent, tend to be concise and simply worded and clear in the assertion that they infallibly define the truth.

Infallibly only applies if it’s in agreement with the Magisterium across the ages and we must take into account that the Pope and councils do most things without the need to use the extraordinary magisterium to make propositions of faith and morals. An extraordinary pronouncement must concern some vital religious truth of grave importance to living the Christian life, so important that one could not be a Christian while repudiating it or the authority that utters it. To reaffirm the Council of Nicaea and condemn a heresy using the teachings that are already know through the Magisterium does not require extraordinary authority excersiced by the Pope, and bishops exercise the ordinary magisterium separately.

God bless

 

[Genesis315]

It was originally just intended for the East, not as an ecumenical Council and its status as one was not clear for a while–it’s main original purpose was to appoint a bishop of Constantinople. The Creed it produced was accepted by the whole Church including St. Damasus in Rome. However, he disapproved of its canon re-ordering the patriarchates (ie putting Constantinople ahead of Alexandria and Antioch). This is why the Emperor tried to have this done again at Chalcedon, which St. Leo also rejected, referencing this prior rejection. Photius, when defending the authority of the First Council of Constantinople, pointed to St. Damasus’ approval (which was limited to the dogmatic portions).

It’s ecumenical character was affirmed by the Second Council of Constantinople, which was approved by Pope Vigilius (the bishops and emperor knew how necessary Rome’s approval was that they had to coerce Vigilius into coming to that one!). But again, given the context of that Council’s reference (which only notes the prior one’s profession of faith), it is limited to the dogmatic portions Rome had previously received.

 

[steve-b]

I have heard that in the second council Rome wasn’t even considered and was told afterwards that the council had already been decided. Was this a mistake on part of the other people there or (obviously y’all won’t choose this option) was the bishop of Rome not considered necessary for a council as today? Thanks

GOD bless!

What makes a council ecumenical is when the pope decrees the council as binding on the entire Church. https://www.catholic.com/ecumenical-councils If that is NOT done the council is not considered ecumenical, but local, and therefore, binding on those who were there, but not binding on the entire Church

 

[Gmsod]

Thank you this clears it up.