His version of history reads into actual history to find things not there. The RCC is well known for practicing eisegesis in its understanding of things. That is the RCC reads into the text to “see” hidden meaning not intended by the author. It leads to bad and false theology as witnessed in Roman Catholicism.
This simply cannot be. It is a continuous apostolic tradition and an unassailable history of divine authority as Cardinal Newman so eloquently reminds us.
For example, the fidelity to what Paul received was fundamentally important. Yet he did not want “to invent” a new, so-to-speak, a new “Pauline” Christianity. Therefore, he insisted, “I have passed on to you what I too received”. He passed on the initial gift that comes from the Lord and the truth that saves. Then, towards the end of his life, he wrote to Timothy: “Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us (II Tm 1: 14).
It is also effectively demonstrated by this ancient testimony of the Christian faith written by Tertullian in about the year 200: “(The Apostles) after first bearing witness to the faith in Jesus Christ throughout Judea and founding Churches (there), they next went forth into the world and preached the same doctrine of the same faith to the nations. They then in like manner founded Churches in every city, from which all the other Churches, one after another, derived the tradition of the faith and the seeds of doctrine, and are every day deriving them, that they may become Churches. Indeed, it is on this account only that they will be able to deem themselves apostolic, as being the offspring of apostolic Churches” (Tertullian, De Praescriptione Haereticorum, 20: PL 2, 32).
This is what St Clement of Rome, among the Church fathers and Pope said towards the end of the first century:
“The Apostles”, he wrote, “have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ was sent by God. Christ, therefore, was sent forth by God, and the Apostles by Christ. “Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God.... Our Apostles also knew, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife on account of the episcopal office.
“For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry” (Ad Corinthios, 42, 44: PG 1, 292, 296).
This chain of service has continued until today; it will continue to the end of the world. Indeed, the mandate that Jesus conferred upon the Apostles was passed on by them to their successors.
Briefly put, the Church cannot, indeed is incapable of erring on doctrinal matters.