Infallible Infallibility

Standing On My Head ^ | February 17, 2009 | Fr Dwight Longenecker

[NYer]

I am reading a conversion story and apologetical book called An Invitation Heeded published at the end of the 1800s with a view to editing it for re-publication by the Coming Home Network. In the chapter on infallibility the author makes the very good point that rather than the Catholic Church's stance on infallibility being nonsensical, it is the churches who deny infallibility that are absurd.

The essential Protestant position is, "Our church is merely a human institution. It is not infallible." And yet they demand allegiance of the faithful to the beliefs and moral teachings of their church. But if their church, by their own insistence, is fallible how can they demand obedience and loyalty to their teachings? There is a logical hiccup here of enormous magnitude.

"Ah!" the Protestant will object, "Our church is fallible, but the Holy Scriptures are not, and it is the Holy Scriptures in which we place our confidence--not in the traditions of men." Of course, this begs the question because Protestants of every stripe--from radical Episcopalians with their Mother Goddess worship and homosexual marriage to mainstream Evangelicals to Jehovah's Witnesses all claim that their beliefs and practices are derived from and at least consistent with Scripture.

In fact, while denying that their leaders are infallible, every religion must act as if they are infallible, otherwise their religion would cease to function. Whenever Bob the Baptist steps through his church door he functions on the basic assumption that his pastor does not teach error in the matter of faith and morals. (this is the definition of infallibility) Likewise, Esther the Episcopalian and Martin the Methodist and Frank the Four Square Apostolic Church of the Redeemed of the Fourth Degree-ist all assume that their pastors teach without error--otherwise their religion wouldn't work. They have to assume infallibility in practice, even if they deny it in theory.

The fact of the matter is, all religions function on the assumption that their church leader is infallible. Catholics are just the only ones who dare to make the claim, and how can Catholics make such an audacious claim?

There are only three options: 1) they are insane and deluded 2) they are liars 3) It's true.

[Mad Dawg]

I suspect you spend a lot of time talkin to yourself.

So we're back to the personal remarks.

Actually, this is kind of cool. It happens in one of the Dialogues. Socrates is trying to understand what Meno is saying. Meno is resisting admitting that he doesn't understand what he is saying so he starts making personal remarks about Socrates. When I was young I missed the rich insight and personal characterization in the Dialogues. Meno's friends end up being among those who have Socrates killed.

People REALLY don't like it when they are invited to look at what they are saying. It's the intellectual analog of repentance, and it's hard. So I figured that I might take a personal hit for taking what you said seriously and looking at it carefully. There is ample precedent after all.

As for where and whether God can help me, I will always ask Him for help and rely on His love, and seek more and more to speak only to Him or about Him, and pray for ever growing love of Him. What else matters when it's all done?

[D-fendr]

She’s a wonderful lady and was very important in spiritual education. Selfishly, I hope she doesn’t try it for a long time to come.