Since, mysteriously, the full text of Fr Aidan Nichols' lecture will not be made available, we must make the most of the passages which the Catholic Herald published. [UPDATE: See my post of earlier today.]
By the way: that lecture is highly important, and not only because of Dr Nichols' considerable theological prestige. It addressed the points that some of us did our best to articulate in our Correctio. I do beg you to read and reread it, and to pass its teaching on to as many people as you can. [UPDATE: As the bergoglian pressure-machine cranks up into top gear, pressing for a final Result, interventions such as Fr Aidan's ought to be as widely known as possible.]
Today, I give you Fr Aidan's words on whether popes can teach error.
"It is not the position of the Roman Catholic Church that a pope is incapable of leading people astray by false teaching as a public doctor. He may be the supreme appeal judge of Christendom ... but that does not make him immune to perpetrating doctrinal howlers. Surprisingly ... this fact appears to be unknown to many who ought to know better." [UPDATE: I wonder if poor Cupich is aware of this.]
"Doctrinal howlers". Gerhard Cardinal Mueller reminded us ... aptly ... of the abrupt observation of S Robert Bellarmine to the pope of his own day: "Holy Father, you know nothing about that."
Remember, too, that the Pope, like any other man, is subject to temptations, has his limitations, and is in possession of the same degree of free will as any other man.
ReplyDeleteHe can even chose to be a heretic, if he wants to.
Papal infallibility does not involve some form of safeguard against doing what you want.
It is de fide doctrine that the ordinary magisterium cannot lead the faithful astray into heresy, schism, or mortal sin.
ReplyDeleteThat would be the UNIVERSAL Ordinary Magisterium, not single, isolated papal remarks. That would be the "constant and very firm teaching of the Church" and not mere assertions even in an encyclical.
DeleteWhat good is the papacy if a pope can lead people astray? If he can mislead on one point, why not on a couple of dozen doctrines? Why not just proclaim any old thing? If this is the case, popes aren't worth very much. And neither are bishops. Or priests. We can't trust a soul in the Church.
ReplyDeleteWhether ordinary or extraordinary, even the pope is bound to be obediently subject to it; either the present one will repudiate the error for which he is presently responsible; or orthodox bishops will denounce him for a heretic & call for a conclave; or our Lord will personally intervene. The timing & venue by which the Good Shepherd operates is beyond human scrutiny, but He remains the Good Shepherd.
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ReplyDelete"It is de fide doctrine that the ordinary magisterium cannot lead the faithful astray into heresy, schism, or mortal sin."
Well, evidently there is an exception to leading the faithful astray with Pope Francis or we might also conclude that because of this guarantee that Pope Francis is not really the Pope.
Wow, I regicide that Fr. Hunwicke has finally decided to call things by its name! Thank God!
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