Do Eastern Catholics Accept Papal Infallibility?

Reason and Theology Show – REASON & THEOLOGY

English - December 09, 2023 22:56 - 3.27 MB application/pdf - ★★★★★ - 100 ratings
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Some Eastern Catholics say that Latin Rite Catholics have their own dogmas and Eastern Catholics have their own. Is this true? Or do all Catholics share the same dogmas? Consider the dogma of papal infallibility. Papal infallibility is not unlimited: the Holy Father may not be infallible in his opinion on ice cream flavors, but […]

Papal infallibility is not unlimited: the Holy Father may not be infallible in his opinion on ice cream flavors, but Papal infallibility is “limited to matters of faith and morals,” and “restricted to instances of teaching to all Christians” with “the intention of binding those Christians definitively.” Indeed, Papal infallibility requires the meeting of these conditions. While it is clear the Latin Rite Catholics hold to this concept of Papal infallibility, many people seem to think that Eastern Catholics are free to disagree with it.

Since there are 23 different Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome, to go through every single one of them would make a very long article. Instead, four different Eastern Catholic sources will be considered regarding to how they consider the issue of Papal infallibility: a Catechism, a book, a bishop’s opinion, and the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 A.D.), held before the Schism of 1054.

1. Christ Our Pascha

This is a catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church but is also used by other Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Tradition. Paragraphs 291 and 293 from this Catechism are explicit in affirming Papal primacy and “the role of the Bishop of Rome to guide the other churches even, in certain instances, teaching infallibly.”

2. 101 Questions & Answers on Eastern Catholic Churches, by Edward Faulk

The answer to the first question of this book, “What is the difference between the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Church?” is that all of the same dogmas that Latin Rite Catholics uphold, even the ones defined after the schism [of 1054] are the same dogmas accepted by Eastern Catholic Churches, in agreement with what was expressed in the Second Vatican Council, signed off by all 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. Such dogmas include Papal infallibility. Noteworthy, even though there is the qualified answer in the sense of “different expression” according with “theological background,” this doesn’t mean that Latin Rite Catholics have one set of dogmas and Eastern Catholics have their own. This idea is untenable considering what it means to be one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: one in faith, governance, and the sacraments.

3. Melkite bishop

Bishop John Elya (1928-2019), from the Melkite Catholic Church in the Eparchy of Newton, answers a question concerning the acceptance of Roman doctrines, including Papal infallibility, by Greek Catholics. His answer is very productive in the sense that, on occasion, even Melkite Catholics defend the idea that they are not obligated to accept the same dogmas as Latin Rite Catholics, including Papal infallibility or the filioque. This bishop is very clear in stating that Eastern Catholics do hold and assent to Papal infallibility. In fact, Eastern Catholics must assent even to the non-infallible teachings of the Pope and the Catholic Magisterium, which is exactly what Latin Rite Catholics must assent as well.

4. Sixth Ecumenical Council

Finally, the Letter of Pope Agatho to the Emperor, read aloud at the VI Ecumenical Council, and accepted by the Council Fathers is very clear regarding the concept of Papal infallibility: the Bishop of Rome and his teaching authority is not only undefiled up to the time of this council, but unto the end. Though rooted in Sacred Scripture, Papal infallibility is affirmed by this ecumenical council, before and up to it, and until the end of time.

Taken altogether, there is plenty of evidence showing that Eastern Catholics accept all Catholic dogmas, including Papal infallibility. If you know any Eastern Catholic who is confused about this, you are welcomed to refer them to this video, this article, or to any of the sources quoted herein.