By Friedrich Stummel (Die katholischen Missionen) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The inability to err in teaching the truth. In theology, it refers to: (1) the Church, in that she preserves and teaches the deposit of truth as revealed by Christ; (2) the Roman Pontiff, when he teaches ex cathedra in matters of faith or morals, and indicates that the doctrine is to be believed by all the faithful; (3) the College of Bishops, when speaking in union with the Pope in matters of faith and morals, agreeing that a doctrine must be held by the universal Church, and the doctrine is promulgated by the Pontiff.
- Catholic Dictionary, p. 408
The Doctrine of Infallibility, while not officially taught until the First Vatican Council in 1869-70, has been held by the Church since its beginning. Some people, especially our Protestant brothers and sisters, assume that infallibility means the Pope can never make an incorrect statement. This ignores the beauty and requirements of the doctrine. Essentially, this doctrine teaches that God will preserve the Church from erroneous teachings as long as certain qualifications are met. These include the teaching being proclaimed by the Pope, the teaching being about matters of faith and morals and the teaching be declared as something that must be held by the universal Church. Since it has such rigorous requirements, situations in which infallibility are invoked are fairly unusual. This doctrine really is something we as Catholics should rejoice in because it means that God so loves His church that He is willing to preserve her from error.
- Catholic Dictionary, p. 408
The Doctrine of Infallibility, while not officially taught until the First Vatican Council in 1869-70, has been held by the Church since its beginning. Some people, especially our Protestant brothers and sisters, assume that infallibility means the Pope can never make an incorrect statement. This ignores the beauty and requirements of the doctrine. Essentially, this doctrine teaches that God will preserve the Church from erroneous teachings as long as certain qualifications are met. These include the teaching being proclaimed by the Pope, the teaching being about matters of faith and morals and the teaching be declared as something that must be held by the universal Church. Since it has such rigorous requirements, situations in which infallibility are invoked are fairly unusual. This doctrine really is something we as Catholics should rejoice in because it means that God so loves His church that He is willing to preserve her from error.
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