Hitch
Now I am confused, was not the topic of conversation persecution by the RCC?
Yes the RCC does believe in papal infallibility, but it no longer comes out in the form of persecution in the manner it once did.
I believe however, that in order to make valid arguments against such doctrines, we should at least properly represent it.
Papal infallibility basically is the notion that the RCC allows the office of the Pope to be the ruling agent in deciding the beliefs of the Church.
These pronouncements by the pope are known as solemn papal definitions or ex cathedra teachings. This does not mean that the pope is excempt from the liability of sin.
I would argue that seeing how many of these doctrinal heresies came via the popes, then they are liable to God for these heretical sins.
However, a RC would probably counter that seeing how the popes make these doctrines "ex cathedra", then they can not be heretical because they come from God Himself.
But then again, I believe in Sola-scriptura and do not believe that RCC tradition (to put it mildly) is on par with Scripture.
There are many great articles on the Highway that touch on this subject, such as
here and
here .
These articles deal with very important subjects and show the heretical teaching of the RCC on these matters.
You seemed to accuse me of distracting away from the guilt of the RCC, yet I assure you that I am definitely not distracting away from their guilt in many areas. But, what I said before stands.
I find that when man has power, they often misuse it and sometimes it comes in the form of persecution. But this is not something that is unique to the RCC; it is something that is common within all depraved man.
Unfortunately it even comes out from time to time within true believers, who allow sinful thoughts to come to fruition in their actions.
Tom
