But Catholics point out that only ex cathedra statements of the Pope are infallible, and that many of the statements that opponents of papal infallibility point to are not ex cathedra. The conditions required for ex cathedra teaching are mentioned in the Vatican decree: |
But Catholics point out that only ex cathedra statements of the Pope are infallible, and that many of the statements that opponents of papal infallibility point to are not ex cathedra. The conditions required for ex cathedra teaching are mentioned in the Vatican decree: |
As one of the bishops said at the First Vatican Council, if such dogma were going to be passed, it would have to be in power only since 1870. Before the First Vatican Council there was no concept such as ex cathedra. Critics assert that it was invented merely to arbitrarily accept or reject opinions of previous popes and there is no official method of differentation between ex cathedra or not (other that "'cause we're saying so"). |
As one of the bishops said at the First Vatican Council, if such dogma were going to be passed, it would have to be in power only since 1870. Before the First Vatican Council there was no concept such as ex cathedra. Critics assert that it was invented merely to arbitrarily accept or reject opinions of previous popes and that, even though the conditions required for ex cathedra teaching are spelled out in the Vatican decree (and listed above), there is no official method of differentation between ex cathedra or not (other than "'cause we're saying so"). See also the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who hold a similar belief about the LDS Prophet. |
Vatican Council, Sess. IV, Const. de Ecclesiâ Christi, c. iv, holds:
Following the first Vatican Council, 1870, a dissent, mostly among German, Austrian and Swiss Catholics, arose over the definition of Papal Infallibility. The dissenters, holding the General Councils of the Church infallible, were unwilling to accept the dogma of Papal Infallibility. Many of these Catholics formed independent communities which became known as the Old Catholic Church.
Some non-Catholic Christians point out that some statements made by Popes of the past seem out of place in the more ecumenical? position of the Roman Catholic Church today. For example:
But Catholics point out that only ex cathedra statements of the Pope are infallible, and that many of the statements that opponents of papal infallibility point to are not ex cathedra. The conditions required for ex cathedra teaching are mentioned in the Vatican decree:
The clearest recent statement of the church on its understanding of infallibility is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated in 1994, in which papal infallibility is clearly understood as an aspect of the infallibility of the Church Herself rather than as a personal authority (sections 889-892).
See also the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who hold a similar belief about the LDS Prophet.
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