Papal Claims to Authority

Here you see the coat of arms for Pope John Paul II. The "M" represents Mary, whom the Roman Catholic Church champions as the Mediatrix of salvation between Jesus and all mankind. Take note of the crown on top. It is a triple tiered crown, that is also called a tiara or triregno in Latin.

In the coronation of all popes including Pius XII, on March 12, 1939 the tiara is placed on the candidates head with the words:

"Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art Father of princes and kings, Ruler of the world, Vicar of our Savior Jesus Christ".

If this phraseology had not been sanctified by long usage, it would not have been coined in this generation to express the relation of the pope to the political and social order; but it would not have been created in the first place if it had not meant then what it says "Ruler of the world".

Source: Paul Hutchinson and Winfred E. Garrison, 20 Centuries of Christianity: A Concise History (1st ed.), p. 120. 1959 by Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., New York.

NOTE: Popes John Paul I and John Paul II, in 1978, both declined the formal coronation ceremony and the wearing of the triple-tiered crown, as it was considered to be inappropriate in view of the second Vatican Council's emphasis on the pastoral role of the Papacy, rather than its temporal authority. Though 2 successive Popes have declined the outward display of the coronation, adopting instead a more modest installation, the next Pope could very well return to this tradition.

[<http://www.nationalshrine.com/NAT_SHRINE/graphics/tiara.jpg>]
In the http://www.nationalshrine.com/nat_shrine/tour_hom.htm"National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., a triple-tiered papal tiara is on permanent display. This tiara is shown here being worn by Pope Paul VI. It declares him to be king of heaven, earth, and purgatory.

Papal Tiara is Persian (Babylonian?) in design.

"The origin of the tiara is not known, though it is fashioned after the Persian royal headpiece."

Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Revised and Updated, 1987, by Robert C. Broderick, Editor, Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., p. 579.

THE KEYS OF AUTHORITY

Did you notice the two keys in JP II's coat of arms? Those represent the keys to the kingdom, the assumed authority to bind and loose claimed by the Papacy from the book of Matthew-

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, "But whom say ye that I am?"
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven".
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".
Mat 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".

Let's look at this passage in detail -

Verse 15 - Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is.

Verse 16 - Simon Peter answers that he knows Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, the very Son of the Living God. This is the very foundation of the Gospel message - a clear understanding of the reveasled Word of God.

Verse 17 - Jesus responds that the ONLY reason that Peter knows this is because it has been Divinely revealed to him by the Father.

Verse 18 - Continuing, Jesus remarks to Peter that He will build His Church upon the rock of spiritual revelation, or faith. And that tha gates of hell shall not prevail against faith. Faith is the mind of God in you, a clear understanding of the revealed Word of God.

The Catholic Church appeals to this same verse to say that Peter is the foundation of the Church, and that his Papal office is declared here. This is substituting the Papacy for the Holy Spirit. The Pope's main title is Vicarivs Filii Dei which means "Vicar (or Substiitute) for the Son of God". In other words, the Pope is usurping the place and office of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 19 - The Papacy presumes that in this verse Jesus bestowed on Peter the absolute right and authority to govern the church as he (Peter) deemed appropriate, and that God would back him up, and his successors, in all they do in His name with that authority.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

This verse applies to all Christians, not just Peter. The Word of God is the limiting factor in our authority. We only have authority to declare to the world what God's Word reveals to us in His scriptures. As an example, the Christian can declare adultery to be a sin, condemned by God, but only because God himself declares this in His scriptures. Christians have the mind of Christ, and that is a clear understanding in the revealed Word of God which can never change. That is entirely different from the Catholic interpretation of absolute God-like unerring power presumed by the Papacy. Hence Jesus called him "the false prophet".

So, to make it clear, just what are the keys (plural) to the Kingdom? Well, how will any mortal human being enter into the kingdom? By faith. Faith in what? Faith in what Peter called "the PRESENT truth" or a clear revelation of the Word God is going to fulfill in YOUR day. We must recognize OUR day and ITS Message because that is the only part of His Word God will fulfill in our day. He is only writing epistles of the PRESENT truth.

The entrance to the Kingdom is by the new birth or baptism with the Holy Ghost which is a life lived by a clear revelation of the Word for Your day. To clarify this point I shall paraphrase I John 1:7. "Unless our life is manifestating the Word or Light God is fulfilling now, we are not and cannont come under the blood, or be born-again; and can not have true Spiritual fellowship". Thus there was a different baptism of the Spirit in each Church Age as God fulfilled a different portion of His Word. Hence Peter had the Keys (plural) to the Kingdom of heaven.

Matt 16 completely negates the Catholic claim of infalliblity vested in Papal authority and their theory of Apostolic succession. They are pure invention, a fabrication not even dreamed of until three hundred years after the time of Christ, when the church was trying to establish the authority of the Bishop of Rome over the Church. In the place of the Gospel message, the Catholic Church claims a blanket infallible Papal authority to proclaim Tradition in substitution for the Gospel message. That process is called AntiChrist.

Please take careful note of the following six items.

No Pope before Gregory the Great (590-604) claimed "Universality".

For, as your venerable Holiness knows, this name of Universality was offered by the holy synod of Chalcedon to the pontiff of the Apostolic See which by the providence of God I serve(2). But no one of my predecessors has ever consented to use this so profane a title; since, forsooth, if one Patriarch is called Universal, the name of Patriarch in the case of the rest is derogated. But far be this, far be it from the mind of a Christian, that any one should wish to seize for himself that whereby he might seem in the least degree to lessen the honour of his brethren. While, then, we are unwilling to receive this honour when offered to us, think how disgraceful it is for any one to have wished to usurp it to himself perforce.

Wherefore let not your Holiness in your epistles ever call any one Universal, lest you detract from the honour due to yourself in offering to another what is not due.

Source: BOOK V, EPISTLE XLIII: TO EULOGIUS AND ANASTASIUS, BISHOPS from Pope Gregory the Great (590-604), online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

Pope Gregory the Great renounces the title "Universal Pope".

Your Blessedness has also been careful to declare that you do not now make use of proud titles, which have sprung from a root of vanity, in writing to certain persons, and you address me saying, As you have commanded. This word, command, I beg you to remove from my hearing, since I know who I am, and who you are. For in position you are my brethren, in character my fathers. I did not, then, command, but was desirous of indicating what seemed to be profitable. Yet I do not find that your Blessedness has been willing to remember perfectly this very thing that I brought to your recollection. For I said that neither to me nor to any one else ought you to write anything of the kind; and lo, in the preface of the epistle which you have addressed to myself who forbade it, you have thought fit to make use of a proud appellation, calling me Universal Pope. But I beg your most sweet Holiness to do this no more, since what is given to another beyond what reason demands is subtracted from yourself. For as for me, I do not seek to be prospered by words but by my conduct. Nor do I regard that as an honour whereby I know that my brethren lose their honour. For my honour is the honour of the universal Church: my honour is the solid vigour of my brethren. Then am I truly honoured when the honour due to all and each is not denied them. For if your Holiness calls me Universal Pope, you deny that you are yourself what you call me universally. But far be this from us. Away with words that inflate vanity and wound charity.

And, indeed, in the synod of Chalcedon and afterwards by subsequent Fathers, your Holiness knows that this was offered to my predecessors(1). And yet not one of them would ever use this title, that, while regarding the honour of all priests in this world, they might keep their own before Almighty God.

Source BOOK VIII, EPISTLE XXX: TO EULOGIUS, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

Pope Gregory the Great criticizes use of the title "Universal Bishop" and denies Peter was a "Universal Apostle".

For to all who know the Gospel it is apparent that by the Lord's voice the care of the whole Church was committed to the holy Apostle and Prince of all the Apostles, Peter. For to him it is said, Peter, lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep (John xxi. 17). To him it is said, Behold Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat; and I have prayed for thee, Peter, that they faith fail not. And thou, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Luke xxii. 31). To him it is said, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind an earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven (Matth. xvi. 18).

Lo, he received the keys of the heavenly kingdom, and power to bind and loose is given him, the care and principality of the whole Church is committed to him, and yet he is not called the universal apostle; while the most holy man, my fellow-priest John, attempts to be called universal bishop. I am compelled to cry out and say, O tempora, O mores!

Source: BOOK V, EPISTLE XX: TO MAURICIUS AUGUSTUS from Pope Gregory the Great (590-604), online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

Pope Gregory the Great calls the title Universal "pestiferous".

Be it known then to your Fraternity that John, formerly bishop of the city of Constantinople, against God, against the peace of the Church, to the contempt and injury of all priests, exceeded the bounds of modesty and of his own measure, and unlawfully usurped in synod the proud and pestiferous title of oecumenical, that is to say, universal. ...

I exhort and entreat that not one of you ever accept this name, that not one consent to it, that not one write it, that not one admit it wherever it may have been written, or add his subscription to it; but, as becomes ministers of Almighty God, that each keep himself from this kind of poisoned infection, and give no place to the cunning lier-in-wait, since this thing is being done to the injury and rendering asunder of the whole Church, and, as we have said, to the condemning of all of you. For if one, as he supposes, is universal bishop, it remains that you are not bishops. ...

Source: BOOK IX, EPISTLE LXVIII TO EUSEBIUS OF THESSALONICA from Pope Gregory the Great (590-604), online at New Advent. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

Pope Gregory the Great declares title "Universal Priest" to be Antichrist.

Whosoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Priest, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others. Nor is it by dissimilar pride that he is led into error; for, as that perverse one wishes to appear as God above all men, so whosoever this one is who covets being called sole priest, he extols himself above all other priests.

Source: Pope Gregory the Great (590-604), Letter to Emperor Mauricius Augustus (against assumption of title universal by Patriarch of Constantinople) in his Epistles, bk. 7, letter 33, trans. in NPNF, 2d series, Vol. 12, p. 226 (2d pagination).

Here is the above BOOK VII, EPISTLE XXXIII: TO MAURICIUS AUGUSTUS online at EWTN. (You will need to scroll down to find the document)

So Pope Gregory the Great condemned the titles of Universal Patriarch, Universal Pope, Universal Bishop and Universal Priest. He saw that such pomposity was satanic or antichrist in nature. In any case, Pope Boniface II - I (607 A.D.), a mere three years after the death of Gregory, petitioned Emperor Phocus to declare the Roman See the head of all Christian churches and that the title Universal Bishop would apply exclusively to the Bishop of Rome. This was done in an attempt to end the ambitions of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

See Boniface III online at New Advent.

Emperor Phocus granted the request, and a grateful Boniface III erected a gilded statue of him in Rome proclaiming his greatness.

Donation of Constantine to the "Universal Pope" of Rome.

Our most gracious serenity desires, in clear discourse, through the page of this our imperial decree, to bring to the knowledge of all the people in the whole world what things our Saviour and Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the most High Father, has most wonderfully seen fit to bring about through his holy apostles Peter and Paul and by the intervention of our father Sylvester, the highest pontiff and the universal pope. First, indeed, putting forth, with the inmost confession of our heart, for the purpose of instructing the mind of all of you, our creed which we have learned from the aforesaid most blessed father and our confessor, Sylvester the universal pontiff; and then at length announcing the mercy of God which has been poured upon us. ...

For let all the people and the nations of the races in the whole world rejoice with us; we exhorting all of you to give unbounded thanks, together with us, to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For He is God in Heaven above and on earth below, who, visiting us through His holy apostles, made us worthy to receive the holy sacrament of baptism and health of body. In return for which, to those same holy apostles, my masters, St. Peter and St. Paul; and, through them, also to St. Sylvester, our father, - the chief pontiff and universal pope of the city of Rome, -and to all the pontiffs his successors, who until the end of the world shall be about to sit in the seat of St. Peter: we concede and, by this present, do confer, our imperial Lateran palace, which is preferred to, and ranks above, all the palaces in the whole world; then a diadem, that is, the crown of our head, and at the same time the tiara; and, also, the shoulder band, - that is, the collar that usually surrounds our imperial neck; and also the purple mantle, and crimson tunic, and all the imperial raiment; and the same rank as those presiding over the imperial cavalry; conferring also the imperial sceptres, and, at the same time, the spears and standards; also the banners and different imperial ornaments, and all the advantage of our high imperial position, and the glory of our power.

Donation of Constantine online.

Though proved a forgery in the 15th century, the use of the phrase "universal pope" in the Donation of Constantine shows the title was attributed to the Bishop of Rome in the 8th century. For centuries, the Donation of Constantine was held to be genuine by the Catholic Church.

Now note that Pope Gregory VII also declared himself to be "Universal Pope", a title which Gregory the Great refused and condemned. This papal claim has been maintained or embellished on by every subsequent pope, eventually leading to the declaration of papal infallibility.

THE DICTATES OF HILDERBRAND (POPE GREGORY VII)

1. That the Roman Church was founded by the Lord alone.
2. That the Roman Pontiff alone is justly called universal.
3. That he alone can depose bishops or restore them
9. That all princes should kiss the feet of the pope alone
12. That it is lawful for him to depose emperors
18. That his sentence ought not to be reviewed by any one; and he alone can review [the decisions] of all.
19. That he ought to be judged by no one
22. That the Roman Church never erred; nor will it, according to Scripture, ever err
27. That he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous [rulers].

Source: Gregory VII (1073-1085 A.D.), Dictatus Papae (Dictates of the Pope; sometimes called the Dictates of Hilderbrand), Latin text in Karl Hofmann, Der Dictatus Papae Gregors VII (Paderborn [Germany]: Ferdinand Schningh, 1933), p. 11.

Claims of "I Am Caesar" (Boniface VIII)

The papal theory made the Pope alone God representative on earth and maintained that the Emperor received his right to rule from St. Peter's successor. It was upheld by Nicholas I., Hildebrand, Alexander III., Innocent III., and culminated with Boniface VIII. at the jubilee of 1300 when, seated on the throne of Constantine, girded with the imperial sword, wearing a crown, and waving a sceptre, he shouted to the throng of loyal pilgrims: "I am Caesar - I am Emperor."

Source: Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church (reprint; New York: Burt Franklin, [1959]), p. 413.

Obediance to the Pope declared necessary for Salavation

We, moreover, proclaim, declare and pronounce that it is altogether necessary to salvation for every human being to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.

Source: Pope Boniface VIII, Bull Unam Sanctam, promulgated November 18, 1302, in Translations and Reprints From the Original Sources of European History, Vol. 3 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 189), No. 6, pp. 20-23 (from Latin text of Mury, Revue des Questions Historiques, Vol. 46, pp. 225, 256, based on the facsimile from the Papal Regesta).

Liberally minded Catholic apologists will sometimes suggest that Boniface VIII meant to apply his remark only to Catholics, and that Protestants are not automatically excluded from salvation by it. However the Latin text (in David S. Schaff, The Middle Ages [Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 5. New York: Scribner, 1910], part 2, p. 28) reads omni humanae creaturae ("every human creature"). The title of the bull, Unam Sanctum (One Holy Church) and its last sentence make clear that Boniface VIII was declaring that submission to the Pope of the Holy See of Rome of the Catholic Church was the only means of salvation and that those resisting that presumed authority were lost souls. Conservative traditional Catholics will staunchly defend the statement that "Outside the Catholic Church there is no Salvation", and will cite Unam Sanctam as proof positive.

Here is the full text of UNAM SANCTAM online.

Claims of Obedience to Pope as to God (Leo XIII)

But the supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds, therefore, requires, together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, as to God Himself.

Source: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, Sapientiae Christianae (On the Chief Duties of Christians as Citizens), dated January 10, 1890, trans. in The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 193.

Here is the full text of On the Chief Duties of Christians as Citizens online. See Paragraph #22.

Pope Leo XIII claims to hold the place of God on Earth.

We [the pope] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty, ...

Source: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter Praeclara Gratulationis Publicae (The Reunion of Christendom), dated June 20, 1894, trans. in The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), paragraph 5, page 304.

Pope Leo XIII Affirms Supreme Universal Papal Authority

15. ... But the authority of the Roman Pontiff is supreme, universal, independent; that of the bishops limited, and dependent. ...

Source: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter SATIS COGNITUM, On the Unity of the Church, June 29, 1896, paragraph 6 of section 15.

Pope John Paul II claims to take the place of Jesus Christ on Earth.

From "Crossing The Threshold of Hope", by Pope John Paul II: (Soon to be available in English at the Vatican web site archive)

First Chapter: "The Pope": A Scandal and a Mystery, page 3.

The Pope is considered the man on earth who represents the Son of God, who "takes the place" of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity. [Ed. - Jesus Christ is of course the One Person of God manifest in virgin-born flesh called Emmanuel. The Trinity is Roman Catholic dogma introduced from paganism].

If you directly translate "represents the Son of God" into Latin, the official language of the Church, you get "Vicarius Filii Dei", which in Roman Numerals will add up to 666. John Paul II also claims to "take the place" of Christ, the precise meaning of both AntiChrist and the papal title of Vicar of Christ.

THE SUPREME PONTIFF - PONTIFEX MAXIMUS

Pontifex Maximus: a Pagan Title of the Roman Emperor.

[p. 306] The Edict of Milan (313), issued jointly by Constantine and Licinius, proclaimed liberty of conscience and showed partiality for Christianity. His policy at first was not to interfere with pagan worship, but by filling the chief offices with Christians and surrounding himself with Christian teachers to make the condition of Christians enviable He [p. 307] enjoined the civil observance of Sunday, though only as the day of the Sun, and in connection with an ordinance requiring the consultation of the soothsayer (321) As the Roman emperor was Pontifex Maximus of the pagan State religion, he would naturally assume the same relation to Christianity when it became predominant. This headship the gratitude of the Christians heartily accorded. In all of his dealings with Christian matters the supreme motive seems to have been that of securing unity. About doctrinal differences he was almost indifferent. But he dreaded dissension among those on whom he depended for the support of his government.

Source: Albert Henry Newman, A Manual of Church History, Vol. 1 (rev. ed.; Philadelphia: The American Baptist Publication Society), pp. 306, 307. Copyright 1933 by The Judson Press, Philadelphia.

Above you see a coin commemorating the pontificate of John Paul II, which proclaims him to be Pontifex Maximus (abbreviated on the coin PONT. MAX.).

Papal Rome a Continuation of the Roman Empire

[p. 269] Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the Emperor's disappearance [p. 270]. The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation; the empire has not perished, but has only undergone a transformation. That is no mere clever remark, but the recognition of the true state of the matter historically, and the most appropriate and fruitful way of describing the character of this Church. It still governs the nations. It is a political creation, and as imposing as a World-Empire, because the continuation of the Roman Empire. The Pope, who calls himself King and Pontifex Maximus, is Caesar's successor.

Source: Adolf Harnack, What Is Christianity? trans. by Thomas Bailey Saunders (2d ed., rev.; New York: Putnam, 1901), pp. 269, 270. [Ernest Benn Ltd., London, has recently published a new edition of this book.]

The Papal title of Pontiff originated with the Caesars of Rome, which declared Caesar to be the head of the Sun worshipping Pagan church. This title was adopted by the Bishop of Rome with the demise of the Roman empire, and it makes the Pope the head of the pagan church of Rome.

Papal Claim of Infallibility Declared.

Therefore faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our Saviour, the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and the salvation of Christian people, the sacred Council approving, we teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer [p. 271] willed that his Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church.

But if any one which may God avert presume to contradict this our definition: let him be anathema. Given at Rome in public Session solemnly held in the Vatican Basilica in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, on the eighteenth day of July, in the twenty-fifth year of our Pontificate.

Source: Vatican Council, Session IV (July 18, 1870), First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ (Pastor Aeternus), chap. IV, Concerning the Infallible Teaching of the Roman Pontiff, in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (New York: Harper, 1919), Vol. 2, pp. 266-271.

Martin Luther on Papal Infallibility

[p. 69] They assume authority, and juggle before us with impudent words, saying that the Pope cannot err in matters of faith, whether he be evil or good, albeit they cannot prove it by a single letter. We will quote the Scriptures. St. Paul says, If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace (1 Cor. 14:30). What would be the use of this commandment, if we were to believe him alone that teaches or has the highest seat? Christ Himself says, And they shall be all taught of God (John 6:45). Thus it may come to pass that the Pope and his followers are wicked and not true Christians, and not being taught by God, have no true understanding, whereas a common man may have true understanding. Why should we then not follow him? Has not the Pope often erred? Therefore it is a wickedly devised fable and they cannot quote a single letter to confirm it that it is for the Pope alone to interpret [p. 70] the Scriptures or to confirm the interpretation of them. They have assumed the authority of their own selves. And though they say that this authority was given to St. Peter when the keys were given to him, it is plain enough that the keys were not given to St. Peter alone, but to the whole community.

Source: Luthers Werke (Erlangen, 1828-1870), trans. and ed. by H. Wace and C. A. Buckheim in First Principles of the Reformation (Philadelphia, 1885), pp. 159-239, passim. Reprinted in Louis L. Snyder, ed., Documents of German History (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1958), pp. 69, 70. Copyright 1958 by Rutgers, The State University.

Martin Luther also wrote-

"I now know for certain that the papacy is the kingdom of Babylon and the power of Nimrod, the mighty hunter (Gen. 10:8-9)."

Source: Martin Luther's The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520), in Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings, edited by Timothy F. Lull, published by Fortress Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8006-2327-4, page 268.

Papal Infallibility Not Catholic Dogma Before 1870

[p. 305] Q. Must not Catholics believe the Pope in himself to be infallible?
A. This is a Protestant invention; it is no article of the Catholic faith; no decision of his can oblige, under pain of heresy, unless it be [p. 306] received and enforced by the teaching body, that is, by the Bishops of the Church.

Source: Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism (New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1848), pp. 305, 306.

Significance of Papal Infallibility Dogma

[p. 164] The dogma of Papal Infallibility involves a question of absolute power [p. 165] It is the direct antipode of the Protestant principle of the absolute supremacy and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures. It establishes a perpetual divine oracle in the Vatican. Every Catholic may hereafter say, I believe not because Christ, or the Bible, or the Church, but because the infallible Pope has so declared and commanded. If the dogma is false, it involves a blasphemous assumption, and makes the nearest approach to the fulfillment of St. Paul's prophecy of the man of sin, who as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself off that he is God (2 Thess. ii. 4).

Source: Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (4th ed., rev.; New York: Harper, 1919), Vol. 1, pp. 164, 165.

Note Our Most Holy Lord. online at "The Catholic Website", IN HOC SIGNO VINCES.

2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Clearly, in light of the above evidence, this passage speaks of the Papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. papal.htm

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