For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Vincent Mercado
The Vatican Council has declared that the Pope, when he speaks ex cathedra — that is, when in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church — is, by reason of the Divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer wished His Church to be endowed in defining doctrines of faith and morals; and consequently that such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of their own nature (ex sese) and not by reason of the Church's consent"
For the correct understanding of this definition it is to be noted that:
1. The Pope has to proclaim a teaching for all Christians to believe.
2. The Pope has to proclaim a teaching regarding Faith and Morals.
3. The Pope has to proclaim a teaching of the highest (de fide) theological certainty.
Therefore,
1. If he is speaking to the diocese of Rome only, and not to the whole Church, or if he speaks as a private theologian, he is not infallible.
2. If he is speaking about a topic that does not concern faith and morals, e.g. basketball, he is not infallible.
3. If he is speaking about his opinions, or church procedures and practices, he is not infallible.
MONA FERNANDEZ
All human beings are fallible, only God is infallible. since the Pope is also human, born of original sin through his parents, it makes him also short of the glory of God.
mike nnnn
The Catholic Pope is not considered infallible as a man. The Roman Catholic church believes that each statement of faith that the Pope institutes is holy spirit inspired and can never be wrong, which make’s the procedure infallible, not the man.
Dave Killebrew
Well stated. Will you provide the source or sources for your response? I would like to read more of these details. Thanks, Dave
JD Abshire
Colossians 2:8-10 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
Vincent Mercado
Pastor Aeternus, chap. 4
Catechism of the Catholic Church, pp. 888-892
Jennifer Henkel
Vincent, your first statement reveals the problem: "The Vatican Council has declared..."
These were (are) MEN. Just because a man declares something to be true does not make it so!
Now if Almighty GOD had said, "Everything your head pastor says is truth," then I would believe it.
Believe me, I'm NOT trying to offend you in any way, but I'm concerned that you put far more trust in manmade rules and traditions than you do in the Holy Bible. The Scriptures are inspired by God, but man's traditions are not.
Vincent Mercado
Just because they were men, doesn't mean we can not trust them. God used men to write the bible, didn't He?
Peter denied Christ three times, yet we hold his letters (1 and 2 Peter) inerrant. Paul ordered the persecution of many Christians, yet we hold his letters inerrant. God uses people no matter how sinful they may be.
JD Abshire
1 Peter 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
1 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
They were "holy men" meaning they were set aside for God's purpose, not that they were infallible. I believe the scripture was literally God breathed. The Prophets, Disciples and Apostles were not inspired to write as an artist is to paint or a writer to write a book or song. They wrote under the superintending power of the Holy Spirit. The difference is these men were personally called of God, evidenced by the reference to their names in scripture and the fact that some of the books were named after them. The canon is closed, finished, complete. The final authority is God and his Word.
I certainly have no ill will toward Catholics or any other group of people but you constantly promote an organization, religious practices and individuals. The message of the Bible is very clear. Salvation is not found in a particular church, in rituals or sacraments but in the person of The Lord Jesus Christ. When a person truly comes to Jesus they have arrived.
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Vincent Mercado
Is Peter infallible when he wrote the letters 1 and 2 Peter? Or do we doubt that 1 and 2 Peter have errors in it? Should we trust the Holy Spirit that he protected Peter from making errors when writing these letters?
JD Abshire
The Bible teaches salvation by grace through faith. Your organization teaches salvation by grace through faith plus works and on top of that you must (for a fee) be "prayed" out of purgatory as if some individual or group has control or influence over the mind of a sovereign God who would compromise his eternal purpose and will.
I have heard the claim. "Every time the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs".
If the false teaching of purgatory would cease, Catholicism would dry up and blow away.
Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:9 "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
Tony Flores
All books of the bible are without error, If a book has been proven to be in error, then it should be deleted. The Holy Spirit acting through men is the common denominator in all books. The Holy Spirit works through sinful man, and many change like the first King of Israel, King Saul, whom went from good to bad. I know that Peter went from denial to one of the head of the early church, but no where does the Bible states that he was above any other disciple. Peter did not live in a palace or had riches all around him. Peter was a fisherman and then became a fisher of man for Christ. Most Catholics consider the Pope a god. What is wrong with this picture? Look at Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela, they (in my eyes) were more Christ like than the Pope. Why elevate a mere human being to the status of a Greek God when a Christian should be more like Jesus Christ. Maybe the Catholic Church should minister to the people and not the other way around. Just my though.
MONA FERNANDEZ
May I suggest, all those who have questions reg. who is right and who is wrong, please ask the Holy Spirit with all sincerity; to reveal the truth to you and He will. remember the spirit of God is given to us as a Teacher, comforter, helper. You receive not because you ask not. so stop relying on any man, depend on the Holy Spirit. God Bless. The most important thing is to obey Christs teachings, remember even His mother at the wedding at Cana said : "Do whatsoever He saith".
Nathan Toronga
JD, well said.
Dear Vincent, you consistently quote the very source of error to prove that it has no error.
It's like a watchtowerer quoting their satanic NWT to demonstrate that it's error free, or a Mormon quoting the Book of Mormon. It can't.
Jesus consistently referred the Pharisees to the Scriptures to prove His correctness.
Now, it was God who designated Prophets & Apostles. That designation protected them from error, because they spoke what God had said - sometimes without even understanding it themselves. Daniel 12:9.
Now tell me, are your councils also God?
Can they ordain an apostle or a prophet?
These sickening old wives' tales about "Peter's successor" - has any apostle or prophet ever been succeeded through human interference? Can a group of mortals anoint a prophet or an apostle?
God ordained John the Baptist to the office of Elijah. No human hand
God is directly involved in choosing who speaks to His people.
What qualities do your people look at to quality them as God's servants?
Please, spare us this stuff of keys being passed to whoever. All successors in our Kingdom have credentials & criteria.
They're not thrown about like confetti.
You can believe what you want, of course, but know for sure your papacy has murdered millions for refusing it's demonic teachings - which to Catholics are infallible teachings.
And they shall be repaid in full for the blood of the saints they've shed, and which they'll shed again in the VERY NEAR FUTURE.
Bless