What is meant by the infallibility of the Catholic Church?
the quality of being infallible, or of being absolutely trustworthy: He believed in the infallibility of his leadership. Roman Catholic Church. immunity from fallacy or liability to error in expounding matters of faith or morals by virtue of the promise made by Christ to the Church: papal infallibility.
Which ecumenical councils ended in a schism in the church?
Fourth Council of Constantinople The council condemned Photius, who questioned the legality of the papal delegates presiding over the council, and ended the schism.
How does papal infallibility work?
The doctrine of papal infallibility means that the Pope cannot err or teach error when he speaks on matters of faith and morals ex cathedra, or “from the chair” of the Apostle St. Peter—that is, in his role as supreme teacher of the church.
What is meant by ecumenical council?
An ecumenical or general council is a meeting of bishops of the whole church; local councils representing such areas as provinces or patriarchates are often called synods.
How significant is ecumenical council in the life of the Church?
The ecumenical councils were called together to settle issues of faith among Christian groups. They were necessary because Christianity had diversified so much as an underground religion. They failed in their main purpose, though. They did not unite all Christians under one set of beliefs.
When was papal infallibility defined?
The dogma was proclaimed, following bitter disputes, by the first Vatican council in 1870. The doctrine of papal infallibility means that the Pope cannot err or teach error when he speaks on matters of faith and morals ex cathedra, or “from the chair” of the Apostle St.
Is an ecumenical council an organ of infallibility?
That an ecumenical council which satisfies the conditions above stated is an organ of infallibility will not be denied by anyone who admits that the Church is endowed with infallible doctrinal authority. How, if not through such an organ, could infallible authority effectively express itself, unless indeed through the pope?
Is the dogma of the church’s infallibility different from that of the Pope?
Even the Vatican Council, it will be seen, only introduces the general dogma of the Church ‘s infallibility as distinct from that of the pope obliquely and indirectly, following in this respect the traditional usage according to which the dogma is assumed as an implicate of ecumenical magisterial authority.
Is the Church infallible in her definitions of faith and morals?
That the Church is infallible in her definitions on faith and morals is itself a Catholic dogma, which, although it was formulated ecumenically for the first time in the Vatican Council, had been explicitly taught long before and had been assumed from the very beginning without question down to the time of the Protestant Reformation.
What does infallibility mean in the Bible?
Infallibility, (in general) exemption or immunity from liability to error or failure; (in particular) in theological usage, the supernatural prerogative by which the Church of Christ is, by a special Divine assistance, preserved from liability to error in her definitive dogmatic teaching regarding matters of faith and morals.