Summary
When studying at a university in northern England, a group of traditionalist Catholics regularly gathered for prayer and then headed to pubs. This diverse community debated theological issues over drinks, specifically addressing papal statements and actions that conflicted with established teachings or ecumenical councils. The debate centered on how popes could claim infallibility without being error-free when not acting in their extraordinary magisterium. The group split into two camps: one supported the idea that while the Pope’s ordinary teaching imposes a duty of obedience, he is not infallible unless explicitly using his charism to define dogmas or morals ex cathedra. The second camp believed the papacy had fallen into an exceptional period of compromise and argued that if the Ordinary Magisterium taught error, it was no longer authoritative. Robert, an SSPX attendee and a zealous convert, struggled with this issue. He insisted that Catholics must obey all teachings from the Pope, including those he deemed erroneous or heretical. This view caused him to lose his faith in Catholicism and join the Orthodox Church. Although Robert found the dilemma irreconcilable, I personally adhere to the first camp’s position, believing it is essential for Catholics to remain within the fold of the Church.
Key Topics
Durham Cathedral, SSPX attendees, infallibility
