I do not recognize the authority of Clement of Rome over the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Clement of Rome must have been a Roman catholic. I am not and recommend you re-examine the false and confused teachings of the RCC at large, in toto, and seek Jesus Christ and Him alone...no other Door is available or ever will be.
It’s written in the Holy Bible, especially the New Testament. There is no excuse for not reading and believing the actual Word of God (as opposed to the myths of man) when it is plainly translated into English
Pope Clement was granted authority by Jesus.
Your authority is yourself and you do not have God’s protection that was given to the Catholic Church to not err in matters of faith. Otherwise, there would be a triumph of the powers of Hell.
Since the successors of Peter have the same authority, which comes ultimately from Christ, to bind and loose, they have the authority to bind the faithful in matters pertaining to salvation that is, in faith or morals. If a Pope could bind the faithful to error, it would be a clear triumph of the powers of Hell, because the entire Church would be bound to follow the error under Christ’s own authority. Therefore, the logic of the situation demands that Peter’s power of confirming the brethren must be an infallible power.
Vatican I clarified what was at that time a confusing issue, but did so by way of stating clearly what Christ’s teaching was, not by way of adding anything new. Vatican I therefore carefully enumerated the conditions under which the Pope is in fact infallible the same conditions which logic demands, which Scripture suggests, and which tradition shows us in action down through the centuries.
When the Pope (1) intends to teach (2) by virtue of his supreme authority (3) on a matter of faith and morals (4) to the whole Church, he is protected by the Holy Spirit from error. His teaching act is therefore called “infallible” and the teaching which he articulates is termed “irreformable” which means it can never be changed because it is certainly true.
Jeffrey A. Mirus holds a Ph.D. in History of Theology