Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Infallible Does Not Mean Sinless
Catholic Stand ^ | November 11, 2014 | Infallible Does Not Mean Sinless Leila Miller

Posted on 11/11/2014 11:35:48 AM PST by NYer

A quick reminder that infallible does not mean sinless. Here are some quick facts about the papacy:

1) All of the 266 popes have sinned, including the first pope, St. Peter, who committed among the worst of sins: He denied Our Lord three times during the Passion.

2) While all of the popes have been sinners, it’s also true that many of the popes have practiced heroic virtue, rising to the heights of great sanctity. The first popes (and several subsequent popes) died as martyrs for the faith, and many popes have been canonized or beatified. Saintly popes are common.

3) Though most popes were good and holy men, there were a handful of popes who were bad, wicked and/or corrupt. A recounting of their personal sin would make your hair curl! It is entirely possible that there are popes in hell.

4) Whether saintly or evil, no pope has ever taught heresy (i.e., no pope has ever taught error as Truth). The Holy Spirit guides the Church and protects her so that the faithful will never be led into doctrinal error — no matter who sits in the Chair of Peter.

5) If you wonder how someone can speak truth while not living it, think of a math professor teaching his students perfectly correct formulas and concepts, while he himself cheats on his taxes and cannot seem to keep a balanced checkbook. Or think of a chronic adulterer who preaches that adultery is wrong. His actions are evil, but what he says is perfectly true.

There you have it. Infallibility does not mean impeccability. Just as God protected sinful men from teaching doctrinal error when writing the Bible, He also protected sinful Peter and his sinful successors from teaching doctrinal error while leading His Church.

Thanks be to God.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-147 next last
To: cloudmountain

St. Symmachus (498-514) Opposed by Laurentius, antipope (498-501)
St. Hormisdas (514-23)
St. John I (523-26)
St. Felix IV (III) (526-30)
Boniface II (530-32) Opposed by Dioscorus, antipope (530)
John II (533-35)
St. Agapetus I (535-36) Also called Agapitus I
St. Silverius (536-37)
Vigilius (537-55)
Pelagius I (556-61)


21 posted on 11/11/2014 11:58:07 AM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

John III (561-74)
Benedict I (575-79)
Pelagius II (579-90)
St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604)
Sabinian (604-606)
Boniface III (607)
St. Boniface IV (608-15)
St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-18)
Boniface V (619-25)
Honorius I (625-38)


22 posted on 11/11/2014 11:58:45 AM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

John III (561-74)
Benedict I (575-79)
Pelagius II (579-90)
St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604)
Sabinian (604-606)
Boniface III (607)
St. Boniface IV (608-15)
St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-18)
Boniface V (619-25)
Honorius I (625-38)


23 posted on 11/11/2014 11:59:06 AM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

Severinus (640)
John IV (640-42)
Theodore I (642-49)
St. Martin I (649-55)
St. Eugene I (655-57)
St. Vitalian (657-72)
Adeodatus (II) (672-76)
Donus (676-78)
St. Agatho (678-81)
St. Leo II (682-83)


24 posted on 11/11/2014 11:59:47 AM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

St. Benedict II (684-85)
John V (685-86)
Conon (686-87)
St. Sergius I (687-701) Opposed by Theodore and Paschal, antipopes (687)
John VI (701-05)
John VII (705-07)
Sisinnius (708)
Constantine (708-15)
St. Gregory II (715-31)
St. Gregory III (731-41)


25 posted on 11/11/2014 12:00:08 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob

You are funny, incorrect but funny.


26 posted on 11/11/2014 12:00:28 PM PST by verga (You anger Catholics by telling them a lie, you anger protestants by telling them the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

St. Zachary (741-52) Stephen II followed Zachary, but because he died before being consecrated, modern lists omit him
Stephen II (III) (752-57)
St. Paul I (757-67)
Stephen III (IV) (767-72) Opposed by Constantine II (767) and Philip (768), antipopes (767)
Adrian I (772-95)
St. Leo III (795-816)
Stephen IV (V) (816-17)
St. Paschal I (817-24)
Eugene II (824-27)
100. Valentine (827)


27 posted on 11/11/2014 12:00:34 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

Gregory IV (827-44)
Sergius II (844-47) Opposed by John, antipope
St. Leo IV (847-55)
Benedict III (855-58) Opposed by Anastasius, antipope (855)
St. Nicholas I (the Great) (858-67)
Adrian II (867-72)
John VIII (872-82)
Marinus I (882-84)
St. Adrian III (884-85)
Stephen V (VI) (885-91)


28 posted on 11/11/2014 12:01:03 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: NYer

infallible:
Without fault or weakness; incapable of error or fallacy.


29 posted on 11/11/2014 12:01:09 PM PST by Politicalkiddo ("Now hatred is by far the longest pleasure; men love in haste, but they detest at leisure."-Byron)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

Formosus (891-96)
Boniface VI (896)
Stephen VI (VII) (896-97)
Romanus (897)
Theodore II (897)
John IX (898-900)
Benedict IV (900-03)
Leo V (903) Opposed by Christopher, antipope (903-904)
Sergius III (904-11)
Anastasius III (911-13)
Lando (913-14)
John X (914-28)
Leo VI (928)
Stephen VIII (929-31)
John XI (931-35)
Leo VII (936-39)
Stephen IX (939-42)
Marinus II (942-46)
Agapetus II (946-55)
John XII (955-63)
Leo VIII (963-64)
Benedict V (964)
John XIII (965-72)
Benedict VI (973-74)
Benedict VII (974-83) Benedict and John XIV were opposed by Boniface VII, antipope (974; 984-985)
John XIV (983-84)
John XV (985-96)
Gregory V (996-99) Opposed by John XVI, antipope (997-998)
Sylvester II (999-1003)
John XVII (1003)
John XVIII (1003-09)
Sergius IV (1009-12)
Benedict VIII (1012-24) Opposed by Gregory, antipope (1012)
John XIX (1024-32)
Benedict IX (1032-45) He appears on this list three separate times, because he was twice deposed and restored
Sylvester III (1045) Considered by some to be an antipope
Benedict IX (1045)
Gregory VI (1045-46)
Clement II (1046-47)
150. Benedict IX (1047-48)


30 posted on 11/11/2014 12:02:29 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

Damasus II (1048)
St. Leo IX (1049-54)
Victor II (1055-57)
Stephen X (1057-58)
Nicholas II (1058-61) Opposed by Benedict X, antipope (1058)
Alexander II (1061-73) Opposed by Honorius II, antipope (1061-1072)
St. Gregory VII (1073-85) Gregory and the following three popes were opposed by Guibert (”Clement III”), antipope (1080-1100)
Blessed Victor III (1086-87)
Blessed Urban II (1088-99)
Paschal II (1099-1118) Opposed by Theodoric (1100), Aleric (1102) and Maginulf (”Sylvester IV”, 1105-1111), antipopes (1100)
Gelasius II (1118-19) Opposed by Burdin (”Gregory VIII”), antipope (1118)
Callistus II (1119-24)
Honorius II (1124-30) Opposed by Celestine II, antipope (1124)
Innocent II (1130-43) Opposed by Anacletus II (1130-1138) and Gregory Conti (”Victor IV”) (1138), antipopes (1138)
Celestine II (1143-44)
Lucius II (1144-45)
Blessed Eugene III (1145-53)
Anastasius IV (1153-54)
Adrian IV (1154-59)
Alexander III (1159-81) Opposed by Octavius (”Victor IV”) (1159-1164), Pascal III (1165-1168), Callistus III (1168-1177) and Innocent III (1178-1180), antipopes
Lucius III (1181-85)
Urban III (1185-87)
Gregory VIII (1187)
Clement III (1187-91)
Celestine III (1191-98)
Innocent III (1198-1216)
Honorius III (1216-27)
Gregory IX (1227-41)
Celestine IV (1241)
Innocent IV (1243-54)
Alexander IV (1254-61)
Urban IV (1261-64)
Clement IV (1265-68)
Blessed Gregory X (1271-76)
Blessed Innocent V (1276)
Adrian V (1276)
John XXI (1276-77)
Nicholas III (1277-80)
Martin IV (1281-85)
Honorius IV (1285-87)
Nicholas IV (1288-92)
St. Celestine V (1294)
Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
Blessed Benedict XI (1303-04)
Clement V (1305-14)
John XXII (1316-34) Opposed by Nicholas V, antipope (1328-1330)
Benedict XII (1334-42)
Clement VI (1342-52)
Innocent VI (1352-62)
200. Blessed Urban V (1362-70)


31 posted on 11/11/2014 12:03:04 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

Gregory XI (1370-78)
Urban VI (1378-89) Opposed by Robert of Geneva (”Clement VII”), antipope (1378-1394)
Boniface IX (1389-1404) Opposed by Robert of Geneva (”Clement VII”) (1378-1394), Pedro de Luna (”Benedict XIII”) (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa (”John XXIII”) (1400-1415), antipopes
Innocent VII (1404-06) Opposed by Pedro de Luna (”Benedict XIII”) (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa (”John XXIII”) (1400-1415), antipopes
Gregory XII (1406-15) Opposed by Pedro de Luna (”Benedict XIII”) (1394-1417), Baldassare Cossa (”John XXIII”) (1400-1415), and Pietro Philarghi (”Alexander V”) (1409-1410), antipopes
Martin V (1417-31)
Eugene IV (1431-47) Opposed by Amadeus of Savoy (”Felix V”), antipope (1439-1449)
Nicholas V (1447-55)
Callistus III (1455-58)
Pius II (1458-64)
Paul II (1464-71)
Sixtus IV (1471-84)
Innocent VIII (1484-92)
Alexander VI (1492-1503)
Pius III (1503)
Julius II (1503-13)
Leo X (1513-21)
Adrian VI (1522-23)
Clement VII (1523-34)
Paul III (1534-49)
Julius III (1550-55)
Marcellus II (1555)
Paul IV (1555-59)
Pius IV (1559-65)
St. Pius V (1566-72)
Gregory XIII (1572-85)
Sixtus V (1585-90)
Urban VII (1590)
Gregory XIV (1590-91)
Innocent IX (1591)
Clement VIII (1592-1605)
Leo XI (1605)
Paul V (1605-21)
Gregory XV (1621-23)
Urban VIII (1623-44)
Innocent X (1644-55)
Alexander VII (1655-67)
Clement IX (1667-69)
Clement X (1670-76)
Blessed Innocent XI (1676-89)
Alexander VIII (1689-91)
Innocent XII (1691-1700)
Clement XI (1700-21)
Innocent XIII (1721-24)
Benedict XIII (1724-30)
Clement XII (1730-40)
Benedict XIV (1740-58)
Clement XIII (1758-69)
Clement XIV (1769-74)
Pius VI (1775-99)


32 posted on 11/11/2014 12:03:58 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

Pius VII (1800-23)
Leo XII (1823-29)
Pius VIII (1829-30)
Gregory XVI (1831-46)
Blessed Pius IX (1846-78)
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
St. Pius X (1903-14)
Benedict XV (1914-22) Biographies of Benedict XV and his successors will be added at a later date
Pius XI (1922-39)
Pius XII (1939-58)


33 posted on 11/11/2014 12:04:33 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Papal 'infallibility' is a relatively new concept.

It was only defined in 1870.

By the way, I can't seem to find the word 'Pope' in my Bible at all.

It's almost like it was invented after the Bible was written.

34 posted on 11/11/2014 12:07:22 PM PST by JOAT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain
St. John XXIII (1958-63)
Paul VI (1963-78)
John Paul I (1978)
St. John Paul II (1978-2005)
Benedict XVI (2005-2013)
Francis (2013—)**
**He took his papal name from St. Francis of Assisi, a first in papal names.

==========================================

All these names are engraved in granite at the entrance of St. Peter's.

35 posted on 11/11/2014 12:09:18 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

well, they can certainly be confusing and ambiguous.


36 posted on 11/11/2014 12:15:03 PM PST by MNDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

I’ve never heard of Zosimus or Gelasius before. What were they like?


37 posted on 11/11/2014 12:17:10 PM PST by MNDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: JOAT; All
By the way, I can't seem to find the word 'Pope' in my Bible at all.

Your Bible is probably written in English.

From Wikipedia:
The word "Pope" comes from Latin: papa; from Greek: πάππας pappas, a child's word for father.

================================

You ARE familiar with the word "papa" and it is in Scripture.
Jesus called His Father in heaven "ABBA," which is the form of "Daddy" (NOT "Father") in Aramaic.

I learned THAT in Catholic grammar school but you might NOT have ever learned that. Now you know.

God bless you and yours.

38 posted on 11/11/2014 12:20:12 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: MNDude
I’ve never heard of Zosimus or Gelasius before. What were they like?

I understand that they are the newest ice cream flavors of Italian gelato.
Next question.

39 posted on 11/11/2014 12:21:36 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: MNDude
I’ve never heard of Zosimus or Gelasius before. What were they like?

They are on Google. :o) Sorry for the little papal humor.

40 posted on 11/11/2014 12:24:09 PM PST by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-147 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson