Brett
M. Rogers
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I was hoping you would be able to answer a couple questions I've been curious about.
- Is Catholic doctrine infallible?
- Is Catholic dogma infallible?
Thanks,
Brett Rogers
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Is
Catholic doctrine infallible and, along with that question, is
Catholic dogma infallible? }
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Hi Brett,
What the Church has always and everywhere believed
is infallible — this is the ordinary universal Magisterium
(teaching authority).
What has been declared as true by:
- general councils in
union with the Pope, and
- what has been taught by the
Pope alone authoritatively with regard to faith and morals
(specifically when saying, he is teaching with authority)
are both infallible — this is the extraordinary Magisterium.
Many things in the ordinary universal Magisterium have
never been defined, because there was no need.
As the Catholic
faith is challenged by various heresies, the Church will
speak up and say, no, the Catholic faith is this,
not that.
Mary Ann
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John replied:
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Hi Brett,
Actually, all that the Church has taught in the area of faith and morals
is infallible to the extent to which it has been defined.
Doctrine is teaching, and thus it is infallible; but since it has
not been fully defined, it is not dogma.
For example:
The early Church always infallibly taught that the bread and wine
became the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. That was an infallible doctrine.
It was not until later, in 1215, that it was defined as Transubstantiation
that it became dogma. With that definition, all debate ceased and
all speculation as to how it becomes the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus
ceased.
Hope this helps,
John DiMascio |
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