We Refute the Infallibility of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church claims their teachings are a continuation of the apostles and that their dogma is infallible. The key is to show Catholics that their church has violated its own teachings and therefore the church cannot claim infallibility. After all, how can you claim a particular teaching infallible and then a complete opposite teaching as a replacement doctrine and now claim that teaching to be infallible? “Is the Catholic Church, the ‘protector of truth’ and possessor of the fullness of faith as given by Christ?

Can a church ever fail and fall into error? Haven’t you read this in scripture? Just read the first three chapters of Revelations or Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians and Corinthians and you will see entire churches falling into error from the leadership down.

Catholic websites state:

1. The Catholic Church CANNOT CHANGE its doctrines

2. The Catholic Church is the deposit of faith comprised of revelation from Jesus and taught by the apostles.

3. The revealed truth taught by Jesus, the apostles, scripture and tradition CANNOT CHANGE.

See: http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/can-the-church-change-its-doctrines

The famous Cardinal Gibbons, writer of “Faith of Our Fathers” stated: “If only ONE INSTANCE could be given in which the church ceased to teach a doctrine of faith WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY HELD, THAT SINGLE INSTANCE would be the death blow of her claim to infallibility.”

The Catholic Catechism claims it will ALWAYS REMAIN FAITHFUL to the teachings of the apostles.

Now we have a basis to judge infallibility based on standards set by the Catholic Church.

1. Revealed truth taught by Jesus, the apostles, scripture and tradition CANNOT CHANGE. (According to a major Catholic website)

2. If only ONE INSTANCE could be given in which the church ceased to teach a doctrine of faith WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY HELD, THAT SINGLE INSTANCE would be the death blow of her claim to infallibility.” (According to Cardinal Gibbons)

3. The Catholic Church will ALWAYS REMAIN FAITHFUL to the teachings of the apostles

Has doctrines in the church changed? Has the church ALWAYS REMAINED FAITHFUL to the teachings of the apostles? Has the Catholic Church ceased to teach a doctrine of faith which it previously held as truth and even more so as infallible truth? If we can provide proof that the church failed this test then the foundation of infallibility is destroyed and the Catholic Church will become just another denomination or man-made institution with false doctrine and error.

Example 1:

 Catholic Teaching on Salvation:

A. In the bull Unam Sanctam of 1302, Pope Boniface VIII wrote these words ex cathedral, so therefore infallible according to Catholic doctrine: “We [the Catholic Church] declare, we set forth, we define that submission to the Roman pontiff IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION of any human creature.”

B. The Council of Florence solemnly declared in 1442 that outside the Catholic Church THERE IS NO SALVATION, neither for heretics nor schismatics, even if they should live holy lives or shed their blood in the name of Christ.

C. Pope Leo X at the Fifth Lateran Council (1516), confirmed Pope Boniface and the Council of Florence, but also added: “that disobedience to the pope is punishable with death.”  In addition I can add to this list about 10 other popes that confirmed this infallible doctrine.

However, what did Jesus and the apostles teach that the Catholic Church was required to teach and protect?

1. John 14:6 WEB – “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

2.  Acts 4:12 WEB – “There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"

3.  2 Timothy 3:15 WEB – “From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.”

We can see the scriptural teaching on salvation is far from the Catholic teaching, which means the Catholic Church changed the revealed truth and teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Therefore, the Catholic Church cannot be considered infallible.

Example 2:

Catholic Teaching on Islam:

Previous Catholic teaching on Islam included the following –

1. Pope Eugene IV, Council of Basel, Session 19, Sept. 7, 1434 calls Muslims “abominable sect of Muhammad”

2. Pope Callixtus III, 1455: “I vow to… exalt the true Faith, and to extirpate the diabolical sect of the reprobate and faithless Muhammad [Islam] in the East”

3. Pope Clement V, Council of Vienne, “forbids expressly the public invocation of the sacrilegious name of Muhammad.”

Current Catholic Teaching on Islam:

Catholic Catechism, 841, THE CHURCHES RELATIONSHIP WITH MUSLIMS, states that both Christians and Muslim worship the same God. According to the church Muslims are saved within Islam [even when they deny Jesus as the Son of God} and are not required to be in the Catholic Church.  This goes against every past Catholic teaching (even past “infallible” teachings), which proves again, according to Catholics own test of infallibility, that the Catholic Church is NOT INFALIABLE.

Vatican II 1965– “The Church has also a high regard for the Muslims. They worship God, who is one, living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth.”

John Paul II - “The deep roots of faith in God in whom also your Muslim fellow citizens believe, in order to draw from this the principle of a collaboration with a view to the progress of man… free profession of the faith peculiar to each one.”

How can the Catholic church claim Islam is the same belief as Christianity when Islam denies Jesus is the Messiah? According to 1 John 2:22, "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son." Therefore, the Catholic Church has departed from the true faith and teachings of the scriptures, which puts the Catholic Church in scriptural error and even in error to their previous teachings. The Catholic Church CAN NO LONGER CLAIM IT IS INFALLIABLE.

If the Catholic Church is NOT INFALLIABLE then that means every Catholic teaching contrary to sacred scripture is a FALSE DOCTRINE . We can make this article much longer with even more contrary teachings found in the Catholic Church, which would prove over and over again that Catholic teachings once considered "infallible" is now no longer "infallible" and replaced with opposite teachings. Sorry, but the Catholic Church cannot have it both ways. The Catholic Church cannot claim infallibility in one century and today correct that infallible teaching with an opposing view and claim the new teaching is infallible. Real truth cannot change, which is why God's inspired word has passed the test of time and is the only sure foundation for faith.

"All that is written in the holy writings (Sacred Scriptures) comes from the Spirit of God. The holy writings are good for these things: to teach people, to show them when they are wrong, to make them see what is right, to teach them to do what is right. In this way a person who belongs to God has all he needs. He is ready for every kind of good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 World English Bible)

What Next?

First we want to let our Catholic friends know that we love you!! We are reaching out to you, because we care about you and it's our duty to correct and warn people of error when we see it. Now, if the concept of infallible teaching is false [which we proved by Catholic standards, statements and contrary Catholic teachings], then this means the teachings of the Catholic Church are open to challenge and correction. This means that there is not a "divine protection" of the so called "infallible doctrine and traditions" of the church. Many Catholic teachings are flawed, man-made, and contrary to the true infallible teaching (the Holy Scriptures) that are inspired by God.

Taking this in consideration we encourage you to look at our future teachings on the Catholic Church and test the teachings of the church against the word of God. If the teachings of the Catholic Church fail the test (by not matching what God says in his scriptures), then you MUST throw away that false doctrine taught by the Catholic Church. Remember that your eternal destiny depends on knowing the real truth, living in truth and following God. We cannot put our trust and eternal destiny on false promises and flawed teachings of men.

Pray and ask no other but the Father and his Holy Spirit to guide you in all truth and revelation of his truth.