p. 6 | What Is Papal Infallibility?

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 20, 1908

What Is Papal Infallibility?

GEO. F. FLYNN, a Catholic clergyman of Springfield, Mass., in a recent address gave the following explanation of papal infallibility:—

What do we mean by infallibility? Infallibility is neither impeccability nor inspiration. No Catholic claims that the pope is inspired. No Catholic who understands his religion claims that the pope is exempted from the sins common to humanity. Infallibility has nothing whatever to do with the personal moral character of the pope. There is absolutely no connection between the two ideas, of impeccability, which means immunity from sin, and infallibility, or freedom from error in teaching the church the doctrines of Christ. We do not claim that the pope is infallible in this capacity as a private teacher, neither does the inerribility of the popes extend to the natural sciences, such as astronomy and geology, unless where error is presented under the false name of science and arrays itself against revealed truth. It does not concern itself about political questions, and does not in any way trespass upon civil authority. It is, in a word, restricted to faith and morals.

The pope, therefore, is infallible only when the following conditions obtain: First, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, as supreme teacher of the universal church—he is not infallible as a private teacher, bishop, or ruler; second, when he defines a doctrine as an absolutely final decision; third, when he treats of faith or morals; and, fourth, when he clearly manifests his intention to bind the universal church. Thus we see that infallibility merely implies a divine assistance whereby the official teaching of the pope is, under certain conditions, guaranteed from error. Infallibility is not a quality inherent in any person, but an assistance attached to an office, and its operation is not the discovery of new truths, but the guardianship of old ones.

Concerning this definition of “the infallibility of the pope” the Northwestern Christian Advocate says:—

That is, it is the office, and the office alone, that, in the Roman Catholic Church, is infallible. The wisest man in the Roman Catholic Church can not be infallible, but the most ignorant and the most vicious man in the church would become infallible the moment he should be elected pope. The pope is not inspired of God; he may lead a dissolute and unholy life, and violate all the commandments which would separate him from God, but despite such a character he would receive, by the decision of a simple majority of the votes of cardinals, infallible wisdom in declaring the will of God. The church will revolt, in course of time, from such an assumption, though it will doubtless continue to recognize the supreme authority of the pope.

There is no movement of any consequence now on foot that would indicate the fulfilment of the last sentence in the above quotation. The Advocate properly sets forth the absurdity of the papal infallibility claim; but the Word of God and trend of modern events both indicate the growing power of the Roman hierarchy until that time when the deluded nations and peoples that have recognized her spiritual sovereignty and have worshiped at her shrine shall turn upon her to rend and destroy. Rev. 17: 16-18.