Papal Infallibility Essay
Papal infallibility is a doctrine of the Catholic Church that teaches the pope is incapable of error in pronouncing dogma within a specific circumstance. Those outside the Church generally misunderstand the Catholic teaching on papal infallibility. In particular, fundamentalist Christians often confuse the charisma of papal infallibility as something that affects the pope’s status. They imagine Catholics believing the pope to be sinless or unable to sin. Some people believe papal infallibility to be a fairly new concept. They also speculate it was invented as a means to defend the church against the emerging threats of scientific innovation. Others insist Catholics believe every statement by the pope to be infallible, whereas some believe a
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As the centuries passed, their understanding of the pope’s infallibility became more clearly defined. For example, St. Cyprian of Carthage in AD 256 wrote, “[the heretics] still dare… to set sail and to bear letters from schismatic and profane persons to the throne of Peter, and to the chief church whence priestly unity takes its source; and not to consider that these were the Romans whose faith was praised in the preaching of the apostle, to whom faithlessness could have no access.” (Epistles 54, 14) In context, St Cyprian is stating no error can come from the “throne of Peter”. St. Augustine of Hippo concisely and briefly expressed this attitude with his written statement in the 5th century, "…for already on this matter two councils have sent to the Apostolic See, whence also rescripts have come. The cause is finished." (Sermons 131, 10) Over the years, this statement has been famously paraphrased as, "Rome has spoken, the matter is finished." These two early Christians writers clearing had some understanding that the successor of peter possessed infallibility. Thus it is certain papal infallibility is not a new concept. It is only our understanding of it that has grown and become more tunly over time. Until finally becoming dogmatically defined in 1870 by the First Vatican …show more content…
Both are about the Virgin Mary. In 1854, Pope Pius IX infallibly declared her conception to be immaculate (this teaching was grandfathered-in after the First Vatican Council’s declaration of papal infallibility in 1870). And in 1950, Pope Pius XII infallibly declared that her body was assumed into heaven. Although only two doctrines have been declared ex cathedra (from the chair), there are many other doctrines the Church recognizes as being a must-be-believed by the faithful. Interest in papal infallibility has been rising because of recent examples of dispute over some of these other doctrines, like the male priesthood, contraceptives, and homosexual acts. These doctrines are still infallibly taught, without a definition, by the Church’s ordinary magisterium (teaching
As the centuries passed, their understanding of the pope’s infallibility became more clearly defined. For example, St. Cyprian of Carthage in AD 256 wrote, “[the heretics] still dare… to set sail and to bear letters from schismatic and profane persons to the throne of Peter, and to the chief church whence priestly unity takes its source; and not to consider that these were the Romans whose faith was praised in the preaching of the apostle, to whom faithlessness could have no access.” (Epistles 54, 14) In context, St Cyprian is stating no error can come from the “throne of Peter”. St. Augustine of Hippo concisely and briefly expressed this attitude with his written statement in the 5th century, "…for already on this matter two councils have sent to the Apostolic See, whence also rescripts have come. The cause is finished." (Sermons 131, 10) Over the years, this statement has been famously paraphrased as, "Rome has spoken, the matter is finished." These two early Christians writers clearing had some understanding that the successor of peter possessed infallibility. Thus it is certain papal infallibility is not a new concept. It is only our understanding of it that has grown and become more tunly over time. Until finally becoming dogmatically defined in 1870 by the First Vatican …show more content…
Both are about the Virgin Mary. In 1854, Pope Pius IX infallibly declared her conception to be immaculate (this teaching was grandfathered-in after the First Vatican Council’s declaration of papal infallibility in 1870). And in 1950, Pope Pius XII infallibly declared that her body was assumed into heaven. Although only two doctrines have been declared ex cathedra (from the chair), there are many other doctrines the Church recognizes as being a must-be-believed by the faithful. Interest in papal infallibility has been rising because of recent examples of dispute over some of these other doctrines, like the male priesthood, contraceptives, and homosexual acts. These doctrines are still infallibly taught, without a definition, by the Church’s ordinary magisterium (teaching