Introduction
Total Depravity

The Doctrine of Infallibility as Defined by Rome

       The purpose of this book is to offer an historical review of the Roman papacy as well as a brief overview of some of the central doctrines of Romanism, documented extensively from accredited Roman Catholic sources and publications. We begin with Rome's definition of "infallibility." According to one official document of the Roman church, papal infallibility is best defined as follows: "By a definitive act, he [the pope] proclaims a doctrine of faith and morals.... His definitions, of themselves and not by the consent of the Church, are justly called irreformable."⁽¹⁾ Another publication states, "The Church's teaching authority or magisterium is protected from error in proclaiming absolutely binding dogmas."⁽²⁾ Furthermore, A Catholic Dictionary clearly defines infallibility as an "incapability of teaching what is false."⁽³⁾ In addition to these pronouncements, the Vatican Council of 1870 also stated, "If anyone -- which may God forbid! -- presume to contradict our definition, let him be anathema."⁽⁴⁾
       If the Lord Jesus Christ or the Apostles taught the doctrine of papal infallibility, why did it take more than eighteen centuries for the Roman church to officially acknowledge its existence? Prior to 1870, the idea was proposed and rejected throughout papal history. Ironically, among those who objected were a number of popes themselves, such as Innocent III (1198-1216), Clement IV (1265-1268), Gregory XI (1370-1378), and Paul IV (1555-1559). Two Roman Catholic catechisms, in use before 1870, even claimed that the doctrine was "a Protestant invention; it is no article of the Catholic faith; no decision of his [the pope's] can oblige, under pain of heresy, unless it is received and enforced by the teaching body, that is, the bishops of the Church."⁽⁵⁾ Ignoring these previous articles of Romanism, Pius IX (1846-1878), by his own decree at the Vatican Council of 1870, became the first infallible pope.

Alleged Succession From Peter

       The argument for papal infallibility is based primarily upon Christ's words in Matthew 16:18, in which He allegedly established Simon Peter as the foundation of the church of Rome. It is reasoned that, since Jesus also promised in this verse that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," the leaders of the Romish church, and particularly its papal head, would be in possession of a power beyond that of ordinary men. In discussing the relationship between this power and the role of the priest in Romanism, the Council of Trent dogmatically declared in 1545:

       The priest is the man of God, the minister of God.... He that despiseth the priest despiseth God; he that hears him hears God. The priest remits sins as God, and that which he calls his body at the altar is adored as God by himself and by the congregation.... It is clear that their function is such that none greater can be conceived. Wherefore, they are justly called not only angels, but also God, holding as they do among us the power and authority of the immortal God.⁽⁶⁾

       Having at its disposal the very power and authority of God, it would seem logical that the Roman church would be incapable of error. Thus, the idea of infallibility was conceived, and, through Apostolic Succession, this papal attribute is believed to be currently manifest in the person of Pope John Paul II.
       Given the previously given definition of infallibility, it would fair to suggest that there should not exist a single error, discrepancy, or the slightest variance in doctrine throughout papal history. The Council of Trent also declared that, in addition to dogmas, the traditions of the church all have equal weight with the Bible, since they presumably originated with the same God. Therefore, these traditions should also be in perfect harmony with one another. As we shall see, anyone who approaches papal history expecting to find evidence of this uniformity of doctrine and tradition will come away sorely disappointed.

Endnotes

1. The Constitution of the Church, Article XXV.

2. Karl Ranner and Herbert Vorgrimier, Dictionary of Theology (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1981), page 239.

3. Donald Attwater, A Catholic Dictionary (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1958), page 253.

4. Vatican Council of 1870.

5. A Doctrinal Catechism, page 305; The Catechism of the Catholic Religion, page 87.

6. Council of Trent of 1545.