Michael Fighting
"Michael…who standeth for…thy people," — Dan. 12:1-12
Infallible decrees must be observed and obeyed
Traditionalists have rewritten Church teaching on infallibility to the disedification of many. Some wish to limit it to a rare occurrence that happens several times a century at most. They reduce infallibility to three occurrences in the last century and a half: the definition of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception 150 years ago, the definition of infallibility at the Vatican Council and finally the definition of the Assumption in 1950. In doing so they totally dismiss the teachings of Pope Pius XII, who taught that infallible utterances of the Popes could be found in papal encyclicals. This is only one of many examples of false teaching being circulated concerning the papacy in order to convince the laity that the guidance of a Pope can be compensated for by the clergy and even bypassed altogether,
For two millennia Catholics have looked to the Roman Pontiff for answers in matters of faith, knowing that the Holy Ghost protects him from erring in matters of faith or morals when he speaks ex cathedra. Councils are only infallible when the Pope convenes them and confirms their decrees. Theologians cite Luke 22:31-32: “And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.” This unfailing faith has been confirmed by the Popes and finally by the Vatican Council in defining the basis of infallibility.
“For the Holy Ghost was not promised to the successor of Peter that by His revelation they might disclose new doctrine, but that by His help they might guard sacredly the revelation transmitted through the apostles and the deposit of faith, and might faithfully set it forth. Indeed, all the venerable fathers have embraced their apostolic doctrine, and the holy orthodox Doctors have venerated and followed it, knowing full well that the See of St. Peter always remained unimpaired by any error, according to the divine promise of our Lord and Savior made to the chief of His disciples: "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.” (Vatican Council, DZ 1836; Luke 22:32) Nothing could be clearer, but still controversy remains.
One controversy is over what statements of the Pope are protected by infallibility. The Vatican Council states that both the extraordinary and the ordinary magisterium of the Church are infallible. The Popes use both authorities, ordinary and extraordinary and both are infallible organs. Pope Pius XII clarified the infallibility of Encyclicals: “Nor must it be thought that what is expounded in Encyclical letters does not of itself demand consent, since in writing such Letters the Popes do not exercise the supreme power of their Teaching Authority. For these matters are taught with the ordinary teaching authority, of which it is true to say: "He who heareth you, heareth Me"; and generally what is expounded and inculcated in Encyclical Letters already for other reasons appertains to Catholic doctrine. But if the Supreme Pontiffs in their official documents purposely pass judgment on a matter up to that time open to dispute, it is obvious that that matter, according to the mind and will of the same Pontiffs, cannot be any longer considered a question open to discussion among theologians.” (Humani Generis, Aug. 12,1950) And so Encyclicals are infallible whenever they settle a matter of doctrine. Therefore instead of three incidents of infallibility in the past century and a half, we have over a hundred.
One of the results of the infallibility, given to the Church so that we can be absolutely certain on matters of faith, is that the Pope writes the Profession of Faith. Several have been written from the Apostles Creed to the Nicene Creed down to the Profession of Faith of the Council of Trent. This last Profession of Faith was modified by the Vatican Council: “I unhesitatingly accept and profess all the doctrines (especially those concerning the primacy of the Roman Pontiff and his infallible teaching authority), handed down, defined and explained by the sacred canons and the ecumenical councils and especially those of this most holy Council of Trent (and by the ecumenical Vatican Council).” (The words in parentheses were inserted by the Vatican Council and approved by Pope Pius IX.) All Bishops must make their profession of faith before taking over a diocese. Many others must also make this profession when taking a new position of authority in the Church. Converts to the Faith are required to make the profession, if they were baptized in a non-Catholic church, as are heretics, when they are reconciled with the Church.
“The faithful are bound to profess their faith publicly, whenever silence, subterfuge, or their manner of acting would otherwise entail an implicit denial of their faith, a contempt of religion, an insult to God, or scandal to their neighbor.” (Canon 1325) The next part of this Canon defines the three crimes that can be committed against the Faith, apostasy, heresy and schism: “Any baptized person who, while retaining the name of Christian, obstinately denies or doubts any of the truths proposed for belief by the divine and Catholic faith, is a heretic; if he abandons the Christian faith entirely, he is called an apostate; if, finally, he refuses to be subject to the Supreme Pontiff, or to have communication with the members of the church subject to the Pope, he is a schismatic.”
“For not every sin, however great it may be, is such as of its own nature to sever a man from the Body of the Church, as does schism or heresy or apostasy.” (Mystici Corporis Christi, Pope Pius XII, June 23, 1943) Note well that by committing apostasy, heresy or schism, Catholics sever themselves from the Church. A man that is a heretic, after the second warning, avoid. (Titus 3:10) It is significant that St. Paul is writing to a Bishop, Titus, whose duty it is to admonish the sinner. For the average Catholic, St. Paul would have written: A heretic avoid.
“A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid: Knowing that he that is such an one is subverted and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment.” (Titus 3:10-11) This fact has been confirmed by the papal documents and Canon Law. In fact, the presumption is so strong that those validly baptized outside of the Catholic Church must renounce their heresy, make the Profession of Faith and be absolved from the excommunication for heresy. In the absolution, though, the condition may be added that the absolution is only being granted, if necessary. However, the absolution by the Pope, a delegate of the Pope or the Local Ordinary is required.
Pope Pius IX reminds us: “Wherefore, if any should presume to think in their hearts otherwise than as it has been defined by Us, which God avert, let them know and understand that they are condemned by their own judgment; that they have suffered shipwreck in regard to faith, and have revolted from the unity of the Church; and what is more, that by their own act they subject themselves to the penalties established by law, if, what they think in their heart, they should signify by word or writing or any other external means.” (Ineffabilis Deus, , Pope Pius IX, Dec. 8, 1854; DZ 1641) This is not limited to thinking against one doctrine, but against any doctrine of the Divine and Catholic Faith. The Vatican Council teaches: “Further, by divine and Catholic faith, all those things must be believed which are contained in the written word of God and in tradition, and those which are proposed by the Church, either by solemn pronouncement or in her ordinary and universal teaching power, (and) are to be believed as divinely revealed.” (DZ 1792)
