An Apologetic presentation about papal infallibility

1. PAPAL INFALLIBILITY
ACCORDING TO CHURCH FATHERS,
SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION
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2. A BIGINNING…
• "And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art
thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood
hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father
who is in heaven." Mt 16:17
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3. WHY ‘INFALLIBLE’?
• To be infallible is to be protected from error.
• It does not allow the Church to create new
truths.
• All that has ever been infallibly declared has
previously been divinely revealed.
• Infallibility is not impeccability, nor inspiration.
• This gift never depends on the merits of the
individual or even the fallible arguments
supporting a teaching. Only the teaching itself is
protected by Christ’s promise.
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4. CATECHISM
• CCC 891 - "The Roman Pontiff, head of the
college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue
of his office, when, as supreme pastor and
teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his
brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive
act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. . . .
• The infallibility promised to the Church is also
present in the body of bishops when, together
with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme
Magisterium," above all in an Ecumenical Council.
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5. CATECHISM CONT….
• When the Church through its supreme
Magisterium proposes a doctrine "for belief as
being divinely revealed, “and as the teaching
of Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to
with the obedience of faith."
• This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of
divine Revelation itself.
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6. SCRIPTURE
• Is 35:8,54:13-17 – In the Old Testament, the Church is
described as a Holy Way, free from error.
• Act 9:2; 22:4; 24:14,22 - In the New Testament, the
Church is the "Way" from Isaiah where fools will not
err therein.
• Mt 16:17 – God protects Peter from error by revealing
the truth in a doctrinal question of faith.
• Mt 16:18 –If the gates of hell shall not prevail, then the
church cannot lose the faith. It cannot teach error. It is
infallible.
• Mt 16:19 – The power to bind and loose on earth must
be infallible for the sake of Divine Justice in heaven.
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7. SCRIPTURE CONT…
• Lk 22:32 - Jesus prays for Peter alone to be
protected from Satan (an opposer of Truth). This
implies infallibility.
• Jn 16:13; Mt 28:20 – Matthew and John say God
will guide the Church into all truth.
• 1Ti 3:15 - Paul says the Church is the pillar and
foundation of the truth.
• 1Pt-2Pt – Peter pens two infallible encyclicals in
the canon of scripture.
• Mt 18:17-19 - Jesus exhorts people to seek the
Church as a final authority on the truth.
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8. TRADITION AND FATHERS
• For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of
God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is
the Church, and every kind of grace; but the
Spirit is truth."St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against
Heresies (180 AD).
• "The spouse of Christ cannot be adulterous;
she is uncorrupted and pure”St. Cyprian of
Carthage, On Unity (251 AD).
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9. TRADITION AND CHURCH FATHERS
CONT…
• "But the word of the Lord which came through
the ecumenical Synod at Nicaea, abides
forever." St. Athanasius, To the Bishops of
Africa (372 AD)
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10. A THOUGHT…
• “Suppose now that all [the Churches] have erred; that
the apostle was mistaken in giving his testimony; that
the Holy Ghost had no such respect to any one (church)
as to lead it into truth, although sent with this view by
Christ, and for this asked of the Father that He might
be the teacher of truth; suppose, also, that He, the
Steward of God, the Vicar of Christ, neglected His
office, permitting the churches for a time to
understand differently, (and) to believe differently,
what He Himself was preaching by the apostles—is it
likely that so many churches, and they so great, should
have gone astray into one and the same
faith?”Tertullian of Carthage, Prescription against
Heretics (~200 AD).
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11. • CREDO BIBLE STUDY.
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