Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Papal Infallibility

Is the Pope infallible and the vicar of Christ?

2 comments:

Athanasios Boeker said...

In regard to Papal Infallability, there is no established or accepted (precise) definition of the phrase ex cathedra and the Roman Catholic has no power to obtain one, and no guide to direct him in his choice among some twelve theories on the subject, which, it is said, are bandied to and fro among Roman theologians, except the despised agency of private judgement. Infallability?

To be sure modern Roman Catholic apologists often often insist that the conditions needed to guarantee the infallability of a papal pronouncement were set out, once and for all, simply and clearly, in the decree of Vatican council 1. But then they find it impossible to agree as to which particular papal pronouncements actually satisfy these supposedly simple and clear requirments.

This is all that the First Vatican Council states, "We teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed: that the Roman pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is when in discharge of the office of Pastor and Doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority he defines a doctrine regarding the Faith or morals to be held by the Universal Church, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallability with which the divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith and morals: and that therefore such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church."

Papal Bull "UNAM SANCTAM" promulgated Nov. 18, 1302, "We DECLARE, WE PROCLAIM, WE DEFINE that it is absolutley neccesary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff." Notice the use of ex cathedra language,"WE DEFINE"?

Decree of Pope Eugene the IV to the Roman Catholic Ecumenical Council of Florence "CONTATE DOMINO" promulgated 1441, " The Most Holy Roman Church FIRMLY BELIEVES, PROFESSES AND PREACHES that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church...can be saved unless they abide within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church. Notice the use of ex cathedra language,"FIRMLY BELIEVES, PROFESSES AND PREACHES"?

Compare the above with the Second Vatican Council's, "LUMEN GENTIUM," But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the creator. In the first place amongst these are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God,"

Some traditionalist Roman Catholics say "UNAM SANCTAM" is an Infallable statement, the majority of modernist Roman Catholics say it is not. Who should we believe?

2+2=4

The Vatican 2 Church's doctrines are not in conformity with the medieval Roman Catholic Church's doctrines, therefore no matter what they may claim they have contradicted themselves and cannot be The True Church.

Athanasios

Adam Roe said...

It's also helpful to note that there is no need for a vicar to work in the stead of Christ. Jesus promised to be with us "even unto the end of the world." The Holy Spirit works through the sacraments, the Scriptures, and the liturgy to make Christ just as real today as he was 2000 years ago.