| Infallable? The Pope does not sin? | | | | promised the assistance of the Holy |
| Many Protestants do not understand | | | | Spirit to his Church, and promised he |
| Catholic terminology (many Catholics | | | | would be with it forever. (John 14:8-17) |
| don't either!) Suffice to say, some of | | | | * Paul wanted complete unity among all |
| them believe that Catholics profess the | | | | believers regarding their doctrines and |
| Pope to be without sin. ImageThis idea | | | | belief (1 Corinthians 1:10) |
| is of course inconsistent with Scripture | | | | The above passages demonstate that the |
| (Romans 3:23). As such, this is | | | | Holy Spirit never lies, and as such, the |
| certainly not the position of the | | | | Catholic Church, when invoking the |
| Catholic Church. Infallibility refers to | | | | assistance of the Holy Spirit, speaks |
| his teaching, not his conduct. | | | | without error. This is the ultimate |
| Infallibility does not mean | | | | meaning of infalliblity. |
| impecability. | | | | Sometimes Scripture is not Enough for |
| Simply put, the Catholic term | | | | Protestants. |
| "infallability" refers only to the | | | | Non-Catholics may debate the |
| official teachings of the Pope when the | | | | interpretations of the above verses. You |
| following conditions are met: | | | | may be prepared to answer their objects |
| * he is teaching to the universal Church | | | | verse by verse, or you may not. The |
| * it is an issue regarding faith and | | | | following is a line of logic for the |
| morals (not merely customs and | | | | absolute "need" for Papal authority: |
| discipline) | | | | In the United States we have a master |
| * he specifically intends to profess | | | | document that guides much of our lives: |
| such a teaching | | | | the Constitution. For Christians, they |
| The personal opinion of the Pope about | | | | have a master document as well: the |
| the Middle Eastern conflict, while | | | | Bible. |
| perhaps valuable for all mankind to | | | | The Founding Fathers of the United |
| consider, would not fall under the | | | | States realized that if everyone were |
| doctrine of infallability. Nor would his | | | | able to interpret the Constitution as |
| hope for a certain soccer team to win | | | | they saw fit, that there would complete |
| the World Cup. Finally, it should be | | | | chaos and anarchy. As a result, they |
| noted that the use of this ultimate | | | | instituted an ultimate authority, the |
| authority is very rare, having taken | | | | Supreme Court, to interpret the |
| place only a few times in history. | | | | Constitution for us. |
| Where is it in the Bible? | | | | In a similar way, the Founding Father of |
| Simply communicating, with charity, to | | | | Christianity realized that if people |
| Protestants what Catholics actually | | | | were able to interpret the Scriptures on |
| believe about the Pope and his | | | | their own, that complete anarchy and |
| authority, is the first step in | | | | division would persist within |
| discussing this topic. The next step is | | | | Christianity. As such, he instituted an |
| to demonstrate from Scripture that the | | | | ultimate authority, the Catholic Church, |
| Catholic position is in fact the | | | | to interpret the Bible for us. |
| position taught within its pages. | | | | Protestantism has demonstrated Scripture |
| * First, Christ appointed the first | | | | to be true. This is why they have over |
| Pope, Peter. (Matthew 16:18) | | | | 30,000 denominations and divisons. This |
| * Christ gave specific authority to | | | | division is counter biblical. According |
| Peter, alone. (Matthew 16:19) | | | | to Scripture, unity and truth are lost |
| * Peter confirms the Catholic | | | | when individuals take it upon themselves |
| interpretation of Matthew 16:18-19 when | | | | to privately interpret Scripture. They |
| he exercised authority during one of the | | | | do this, according to the Bible, "to |
| earliest disputes mentioned in | | | | their own destruction." (2nd. Peter |
| Scripture. (Acts 15) | | | | 3:15-18) Fortunately for the majority of |
| * Peter was often mentioned first when | | | | Christians in the world --- who happen |
| the other Apostles were named. In other | | | | to be Catholic --- they have the |
| cases, Scripture just names Peter, and | | | | successor of Peter, to whom the |
| then mentions the others who "were with | | | | assistance of the Holy Spirit was |
| him". (Matt. 10:1-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke | | | | guaranteed, to guide them on issues of |
| 6:14-16, Acts 1:13 Luke 9:32) | | | | Scripture interpretation, faith and |
| * Peter was so important to the early | | | | morals. And following his guidance is |
| believers that even Peter's shadow | | | | something in keeping with the Bible, |
| brought about miraculous healings. (Acts | | | | which they do to their own benefit. |
| 5:15) | | | | Indeed, the infallibility of the Pope |
| * As the leader of the Church founded by | | | | does make the Catholic Church a Church |
| Christ (Matthew 16:18-19), Christ | | | | with a lifetime guarantee. |