“Looking over what you said - bishops have authority in their own areas - it is customary to have the Bishop of Jerusalem open things up.”
James did not open it up. He closed it. He declared the decision at the end of the debate, to which Peter only contributed. And his opinion was not the opinion put forward by Peter.
Can you please tell me where in the catechism it says that in a council, it is the Bishop of the city wherein the council is held who presides over it and makes the judgment?
“You seem to believe that a Pope can never be wrong, and that a Pope can never be corrected.”
When have I ever said that Popes can never be wrong? Didn’t I mention the Pope who was killed when he was caught in bed with another man’s wife? But the question is, would the Holy Spirit through the Cardinals elect a man who is Damned and ruled by Satan?
“Infalliability comes from the Magisterium, and the Pope’s infalliability stems from this.”
So, the Pope is most infallible when he does not make decisions. For it was James who presided and made the judgment, and Peter only gave an opinion.
“James did not open it up.”
*Sigh*
Argument A.
James had authority over Peter because he opened up the Conference.
Rebuttal A - he was Bishop of Jerusalem and the Conference was held in Jerusalem. It is customary for the presiding bishop to preside over his see.
“He closed it. He declared the decision at the end of the debate, to which Peter only contributed. And his opinion was not the opinion put forward by Peter.”
Not so.
“James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.”
Paul corrected and Peter affirmed Paul.
“For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.”
Now - we see that Peter, having affirmed Paul’s mission draws back from his earlier affirmation. Paul, rightly argues that Peter ought to remain with his affirmation and not shrink back from it.
So, we see that while Peter had made the correct Judgment - far from Paul accosting and tearing down Peter - Paul insisted that he stick with his earlier decision.
It is noteworthy that you failed to mention that Paul was first affirmed by Peter.
“Can you please tell me where in the catechism it says that in a council, it is the Bishop of the city wherein the council is held who presides over it”
There hasn’t been an ecumenical council held outside of Rome in quite some time. In any case - that is the custom, the resident bishop presides over the council. We see this in Ephesus, in Nicaea, and in Constantinople, where the Pope sent legates.
“So, the Pope is most infallible when he does not make decisions.”
Nonsense. You twist the Gospel. Peter made a decision affirming Paul and Paul insisted that he stick by his earlier decision.
2 Galatians says it very clearly that Peter gave Paul the affirmation to carry on his mission.