Why don't they?

[Brian Ellis]

Papal infallibility is probably the most misunderstood (esp. by protestants) dogma of Catholic faith. The Pope (any Pope) is a man and is acknowledged to be as fallible as any other man, in all ways, except one. The definition of the first Vatican Council (1869–70), established amid considerable controversy, states the conditions under which a pope may be said to have spoken infallibly, or ex cathedra (“from his chair” as supreme teacher). It is prerequisite that the pope intend to demand irrevocable assent from the entire church in some aspect of faith or morals.

In fact, papal infallibility has been very rarely invoked. I don't think the present one (if he is still alive) has ever done so. The one outstanding case over the past 200 years is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This is also greatly misunderstood. It does not apply to the conception of Jesus, but to the conception, by man, without original sin, of the Virgin Mary. The theory is that Mary could not have been impregnated by the Holy Spirit if her body were imbued with original sin.

[Brian Ellis]

At least I'm not offended that my sister-in-law married a black guy.

Yeah, we all know the colour of your soul, but is she black?

[schmosef]

KVH, if you're really against interracial marriage, I'd like to know your reasonings.

[Paddy]

Rest in peace.

[Gurm]

Papal infallibility is probably the most misunderstood (esp. by protestants) dogma of Catholic faith. The Pope (any Pope) is a man and is acknowledged to be as fallible as any other man, in all ways, except one. The definition of the first Vatican Council (1869–70), established amid considerable controversy, states the conditions under which a pope may be said to have spoken infallibly, or ex cathedra (“from his chair” as supreme teacher). It is prerequisite that the pope intend to demand irrevocable assent from the entire church in some aspect of faith or morals.

In fact, papal infallibility has been very rarely invoked. I don't think the present one (if he is still alive) has ever done so.

I'm pretty sure he did when he did away with Limbo (although he declined to say WHERE the unborn baby souls go NOW... *sigh*)

The one outstanding case over the past 200 years is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This is also greatly misunderstood. It does not apply to the conception of Jesus, but to the conception, by man, without original sin, of the Virgin Mary. The theory is that Mary could not have been impregnated by the Holy Spirit if her body were imbued with original sin.

Funny, most Catholics not only believe that Mary was a virgin when she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, but that she REMAINED a virgin until she died. How Jesus ended up with a bunch of brothers and sisters, of course, is beyond them.

Also, if you know anything about Jews, and Jewish weddings and marriages, you would know that the idea of Joseph and Mary NOT consummating their marriage (whether she was, at the time, carrying the son of God or not) is laughable.