Christ our Lord confided to the Church the deposit of faith, in order that she, with the perpetual assistance of the Holy Ghost, might faithfully preserve and expound revealed the doctrine. … All are bound by the divine law to acquire a proper knowledge of this doctrine and to embrace the true Church of God. (Canon 1322) Infallibility of the Pope
This is probably the most misunderstood and minimized doctrine of the Divine and Catholic Faith. For the members of the Pog Church founded by Vatican II infallibility is something to be ignored altogether. How many polls have been taken among those claiming the name of Catholic, who yet deny some of the most basic doctrines and morals? How many still believe in the Real Presence? And why should they, the Novus Ordo Missae is not capable of transubstantiation, which has also been changed by Antichrist into translelementation. How many proclaim that they use birth control, which is contrary to the clear teachings of Pope Pius XI in Castii Conubii and even Antipope Paul VI in Humani Vitae? In seeking to explain away the last five claimants to the Papacy, Traditionalists have decided to minimize infallibility to the point of almost non-existence. Not only is the Pope rarely infallible in their eyes, they have declared Vatican II as a Pastoral Council and therefore not infallible. Sede vacantists have declared that many Popes have become heretics throughout history and been justly condemned as such. They await the condemnations of John XXIII-II, Paul VI, JPI, John Paul II the great deceiver and Benedict XVI. While waiting they have condemned these men as heretics and rightly conclude that they cannot in any way, shape or form be the Successor of Saint Peter However, they act as if there will never be another Pope, setting up their parallel church along side their sede occupantist (those who believe Benedict XVI is pope, such as the Society of Saint Pius X) and their sede privationist (who believe that Benedict XVI will become pope when he converts) brethren. .First of all all should know that the 20 Ecumenical Councils from Nicea to the Vatican in 1870 are infallible, because they have had their decrees approved by the Pope. A General Council is infallible, when the Pope approves and issues its decrees. No one argues against this, although some even try to minimize here. For instance, some argue that only the Canons, not the theological reasoning published with them, is infallible. However, how could the Holy Ghost allow a Council to be approved by the Pope to teach error in any way, shape or form?The infallibility of the Pope is a completely different matter. Most hold that the Pope is rarely infallible and then cite three instances in the last two centuries, the declaration of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1846), the definition of Infallibility (1870) and the definition of the Dogma of the Assumption (1950). If this were true, why hasn't someone set up a website infallibility.com and given a complete list from the time of Saint Peter until the present of all of the infallible documents ever issued. Since they believe this to be a rare occurrence it should be a simple matter to compile and publish all of the pertinent documents. Actually several attempts have been made. One is published in Election Update. This list is more comprehensive than many wish and it only goes back so far in history, ignoring many other things. Another more comprehensive list is published by Henry Denzinger in his Enchiridion Symbolorum, which is in print in English as The Sources of Catholic Dogma. The Latin subtitle indiates that it is a collection of defintions and decrees pertaining to Faith and Morals. This implies that these are all considered to be infallible. (The 1950 edition has 2340 numered paragraphs, and this numbering is used throughout the website.) However, even this collection is not compelte since it omits the Bull Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio of Pope Paul IV. This is most likely beause he omits the acts of Popes posited while a Council is sitting or between sessions. The Society of Saint Pius X has printed a paper Clear Ideas on the Pope's Infallible Magisterium. This article is discussed also on another page. Basically this article puurports that the Pope in infallible only when he restates the common and constant teaching of the Church. Ironically they states that Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio which proves that their pope Benedict XVI as a heretic cannot be Pope. They make this statement after quoting an authority who states that this is the constant teaching of the Church, that is everythig in the Bull, which is true. With all of this confusion, how can we know what is and what is not infallible? First of all the majority opinion is that a Pope cannot become a heretic, even as a private doctor. However, ALL are agreed that it is impossible for the Pope to heresy in his public capacity. Therefore we must conclude that eery public act of the Pope enjoys at least a negative infallibility, which protects us from being led astray. Amleto Cicognani in Canon Law (1935) teaches: However, on account of the divine assistance which Christ promised His Church, no disciplinary law at variance with orthodox faith or good morals has ever been or ever will be issued by the Roman Pontiff for the universal Church. Therefore we can rest assured that all 2,414 Canons of the Code of Canon Law in their proper interpretation, which is set down in the selfsame Code, cannot lead us away from the Divine and Catholic Faith. Canonical gymnastics as one autor called them prior to the usurpation in 1958 can lead us into error, schism and heresy! Issuing Encyclicals, as stated by Pope Pius XII is a public act of the Pope as Vicar of Christ: 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. Encyclicals can be infallible, if they settle a question of faith or morals. And even if they do not settle a qudestion, they are protected, since they are a public act of the Pope. Papal Bulls are also public acts of the Pope, such as Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio and Quo Primum. These are the main public acts of a Pope. No mention is made in many places of the various Professions of Faith written by the Pope throughout the centuries. Their very title indicates infallibility, for they are a Profession of the Divine and Catholic Faith, usually against some heresy. Now what is one to do, if the Pope departs from the Divine and Catholic Faith in one of these instruments? This was a moot point, until Antipope John XXIII-II made such appearance in his Encyclicals and even moreso when Vatican II contradicted the infallible Syllabus of Errors of Pope Pius IX. What this indicates is that most likely the man who appears to be Pope and is teaching contrary to the Divine and Catholic Faith was not capable of being elected Pope, that is not papabile.Let us join in the modern heretics and attempt to minimize infallibility, but let us embrace all of the Doctrines of the Divine and Catholic Faith WITHOUT QUESTION.Pope Saint Agatho wrote a letter to the Synod of Rome (679ad, as reported in de Montor’s Lives of the Popes, volume 1, page 166): The Catholic universe recognizes this Church for the mother and mistress of all others. Her primacy came from St. Peter, the prince of the Apostles, to whom Jesus Christ intrusted the care of His whole flock, with a promise that his faith should never be found wanting. The Synod then declared: Peter had spoken by the mouth of Agatho. Pope Pius IX also infallibly condemned the error: The Roman Pontiffs and the Ecumenical Councils have trespassed the limits of their powers, have usurped the rights of princes, and have even erred in defining matters of faith and morals. (DZ 1723)Pope Pius XII on October 5, 1957 in an audience on the lay apostolate confirmed: Even if a layman were elected pope, he could accept the election only if he were fit to be ordained. But the power to teach and govern, as well as the divine gift of infallibility, would be granted to him from the very moment he accepted election, even before his ordination. 
Michael Fighting
“I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, confirm thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)
