THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In our last article, we learned that the Magisterium of the Catholic church consists of the pope and the college of the bishops.  When they are united with one another, they exercise full and supreme authority over the Church universal.  They are said to be like unto Jesus and the apostles of the first century.  We learned in our last installment that rather than exercising the authority of Christ and the apostles they have attempted to usurp their authority.  The authority of Christ and the apostles continues today.  Their authority is manifested in the pages of the New Testament of Jesus Christ (Heb. 8:6; Eph. 2:20; John 12:48).

            In this article on the Magisterium, we want to reveal the purposes of the Magisterium.  Too, we will look briefly at a doctrine called “Papal Infallibility.”  The Magisterium has three main purposes.  First, we are told that the Word of God is committed to them.  On page 31 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find this statement:  “And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit.  It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound, and spread it abroad by their preaching.”

            Second, the Magisterium has the role of interpreting God’s Word.  On page 32 of the Catechism, we read:  “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone…This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.” Is this correct?  Are these individuals the only ones who can give an authentic interpretation of God’s Word.  Dear readers, this teaching contradicts the Bible.  All of God’s children are to desire the sincere milk of the Word according to 1 Peter 2:2.  The church does not need a group of men to interpret God’s Word for it.  Every member can read and understand the truth for himself (Eph. 3:4).  If the entire church must rely upon a group of men to properly interpret God’s Word, this will lead to no Bible study by the members of the Church.  This is not what the Bible authorizes.  We have been commanded to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

            Third, the Magisterium has the responsibility of approving “special revelations.”  Listen to the explanation of this obligation given in the Catholic Catechism on page 28.  “Throughout the ages, there have been so-called ‘private’ revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church.  They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith.  It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.  Guided by the magisterium of the church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the church.”  The fact is that there are no more revelations being given to man today.  The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:13).  The faith was given to the inspired men of the first century.  And, Jude tells us that it was “once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).  “Once delivered” means “once for all time,” or, “once never to be delivered again.”  It is interesting that they say these “private” revelations do not improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation.  If that is the case, they are not really needed.  They do no more than good, sound preaching of the precious gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:32; Tit. 2:11-12). 

            Let’s now consider the teaching of papal infallibility.  The doctrine is set forth on page 256 of the Catechism.  “The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful – who confirms his brethren in the faith – he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to the faith or morals…The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of the bishops when, together with Peter’s successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium, above all in an Ecumenical Council.”  Two times the word “infallibility” is used in this declaration.  The word “infallibility” is defined as “absolutely trustworthy” and “immunity from fallacy or liability to error.”  Thus, when the pope or the Magisterium make a decree, it is absolutely perfect.  It is 100% genuine truth.  There is not one smidgen of error to be found in the decree.  Since this is the case, the following must transpire with regard to the Church members:  “When the Church through its Supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine ‘for belief as being divinely revealed,’ and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions ‘must be adhered to with the obedience of faith” (Catechism, p. 256). 

            There are two questions that should be asked of all Catholics.  First, what is papal infallibility?  Second, do you abide by every decree issued by the pope or the Magisterium?  The reality is that many Catholics acknowledge the doctrine of the Church, but they do not follow the decrees.  This stands in direct opposition to the words of the Catechism which says:  “…the definitions must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.”  One such decree involves the use of contraceptives.  On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI declared artificial birth control “intrinsically wrong.”  His words were:  “We are obliged once more to declare that [methods for] the direct interruption of the generative process…are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children.”  Most Catholics do not adhere to this papal decree.  Is the pope right and most Catholics are living in rebellion to him?  Or, is the pope wrong, thereby showing that papal infallibility does not exist?  This is the dilemma. 

            The truth is that neither the pope nor the Magisterium are infallible.  They are not enlightened or inspired by the Holy Spirit today.  The only inspired words that God gave to man are found in the pages of the Bible.  Paul affirms this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Too, he proclaims that they are all we need to make us complete and entire.  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”