This should be pretty easy for most Catholics…what is the latest, most recent infallible doctrine.
The Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven, which became a dogma (required belief) in 1950.
Sorry, nope…try again
Let’s play Twenty Questions. I feel like this is a riddle. Are you sedevacantist?
I should have better explained that I am trying to assess USA knowledge of Catholic Doctrine of recent time. I have a specific goal in mind in which your participation is very important. This is not a contest, it is a survey. Your sincere off-the-cuff answer is important.
I am begging every reader to take their best guess about the latest infallible catholic doctrine. It wont take you but a minute and would be a huge help that I will share with you after the survey is complete. Please, please it is important to all Catholics.
Thans for your reply…very helpful.
Cade One…would you participate in the quiz to help me out, please.
Wrong but thanks for participating.
The correct answer is the condemnation of abortion by Evangelium Vitae in 1995.
The latest infallible catholic doctrine is the condemnation of abortion by Evangelium Vitae in 1995
The most recent infallible doctrine is the condemnation of abortion by Evangelium Vitae in 1995
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Doctrinal Commentary
on the Concluding Formula of the Professio fidei
- These doctrines are contained in the word of God, written or handed down, and defined with a solemn judgement as divinely revealed truths either by the Roman Pontiff when he speaks ‘ex cathedra,’ or by the College of Bishops gathered in council, or infallibly proposed for belief by the ordinary and universal Magisterium.
These doctrines require the assent of theological faith by all members of the faithful. Thus, whoever obstinately places them in doubt or denies them falls under the censure of heresy, as indicated by the respective canons of the Codes of Canon Law.12
- Examples. Without any intention of completeness or exhaustiveness, some examples of doctrines relative to the three paragraphs described above can be recalled.
To the truths of the first paragraph belong the articles of faith of the Creed, the various christological dogmas21 and marian dogmas;22the doctrine of the institution of the sacraments by Christ and their efficacy with regard to grace;23the doctrine of the real and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist24and the sacrificial nature of the eucharistic celebration;25the foundation of the Church by the will of Christ;26the doctrine on the primacy and infallibility of the Roman Pontiff;27 the doctrine on the existence of original sin;28the doctrine on the immortality of the spiritual soul and on the immediate recompense after death;29the absence of error in the inspired sacred texts;30 the doctrine on the grave immorality of direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being.31
31 Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, 57: AAS 87 (1995), 465.
Sounds like a trap or a trick question. I would agree with @Literalman and say that it is Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, but you already stated that this was the incorrect answer, so I was waiting for the big reveal : )
Not sure that encyclicals are considered infallible. They tend to be pastoral or matter of opinion, though they can contain teachings that have been defined as infallible. They are not the common means of defining something to be infallible (if this makes sense).
No, the encyclicals are not infallible. The only thing the Church says with infallibility are papal pronouncements from the chair of Peter. However, the Ten Commandments existed and were binding on everybody before there was a Catholic Church. They don’t need a papal pronouncement to be official Catholic teaching.
To Literalman and Cade_0ne
Even you two good Catholics dont know what the latest infallible dogma is and how encycials work… how very disheartening. Maybe you see now why I’m so insistent about abortion. There are 3 ways an infallible doctrine can be made as you will read below and they all have the same authority. Ex-Cathedra has no special authority, all 3 have the same authority because nothing can be higher than infallible.
Here is the proof from the Vatican…
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Doctrinal Commentary
on the Concluding Formula of the Professio fidei
- These doctrines are contained in the word of God, written or handed down, and defined with a solemn judgement as divinely revealed truths either by the Roman Pontiff when he speaks ‘ex cathedra,’ or by the College of Bishops gathered in council, or infallibly proposed for belief by the ordinary and universal Magisterium.
These doctrines require the assent of theological faith by all members of the faithful. Thus, whoever obstinately places them in doubt or denies them falls under the censure of heresy, as indicated by the respective canons of the Codes of Canon Law.12
- Examples. Without any intention of completeness or exhaustiveness, some examples of doctrines relative to the three paragraphs described above can be recalled.
To the truths of the first paragraph belong the articles of faith of the Creed, the various christological dogmas21 and marian dogmas;22the doctrine of the institution of the sacraments by Christ and their efficacy with regard to grace;23the doctrine of the real and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist24and the sacrificial nature of the eucharistic celebration;25the foundation of the Church by the will of Christ;26the doctrine on the primacy and infallibility of the Roman Pontiff;27 the doctrine on the existence of original sin;28the doctrine on the immortality of the spiritual soul and on the immediate recompense after death;29the absence of error in the inspired sacred texts;30 the doctrine on the grave immorality of direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being.31
31 Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, 57: AAS 87 (1995), 465. Paragraph 62 spells out abortion specifically.
Here you see several very important points:
Evangelium Vitae specifically defined as the origin of this dogma
It is recorded in the AAS of official Catholic Church documents
#31 is the abortion dogma, plain and simple.
Paragraph #62 of EV is the overwhelmingly abortion specific section in the Catholic case of the evil of abortion.
You can plainly see that the condemnation of abortion is equal in authority to all the Marian dogmas and the founding of the Catholic Church by Christ.
Under #5 you see that denial of a doctrine is heresy.
Matt G.(David Anders screener) you said that you were looking a Vatican document that said I was wrong. Can you please name than transmit that document to me.
It is imperitive to correct this terrible injustice to the unborn immediately. Please contact me immediately…chris griffin, chrisgriffin523@gmail.com or 704 299-5348.
This is a horrible black mark on EWTN and the pro-life community that must be corrected immediately and forcefully. I will institute a plan for you to do so since I have spent 18 years on the sidewalk in front of the abortion mill.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you
literalman,
You are very wrong about infallibility. There are 3 ways to make something infallible as I told you. Ex=Cathedra is one of 3 ways and has no superiority over the other 2, they are all the same authority.
Whoever told you otherwise was very wrong.
You are right that there are three sources of infallible doctrine, according to the Catholic Catechism: the pope speaking from the chair of Peter; the pope speaking in unity with the bishops, especially in an ecumenical council; and “the deposit of divine Revelation,” extending to" all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed." So the teaching that abortion is wrong is infallible based on the deposit of divine revelation (in this case going back to the Ten Commandments) and the fact that “Thou shalt not kill” cannot be fully observed without forbidding abortion. The condemnation of abortion is not new, nor is it newly infallible, and its source is not Evangelium Vitae, which is not infallible. That encyclical was not issued by the pope in communion with the bishops; it was written from the pope to the church and to people of good will. Note 31 in the document you cited does not name Evanglelium Vitae as the source of the teaching on abortion. Cf is an abbreviation of the Latin confer, which means “compare.” It is telling readers that Evanglelium Vitae says the same thing. So the teaching against abortion is much older than 1995; it is infallible as an integral expression of the commandment not to kill. Evanglelium Vitae is not infallible, but it is an excellent papal teaching that deserves the attention of the church and of people of good will.
Hi Lliteralman,
Thanks for the message.
Yes, Thou Shall Not Murder has been around a long time but was never named as an infallible dogme of the Catholic Church until Evangeliun Vitae. In other words the prohibition of abortion was a matter of Sacred Revelation and Sacred Tradition but not Church dogma. EV elevated that Sacred Tradition to an infallible dogma. EV contains two paragraphs that define… #57 defines the evil of murder and #62 defines the evil of abortion.
you said…Note 31 in the document you cited does not name Evanglelium Vitae as the source of the teaching on abortion.
This is incorrect by paragraph 62 which states: Given such unanimity in the doctrinal and disciplinary tradition of the Church, Paul VI was able to declare that this tradition is unchanged and unchangeable. 72 Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, in communion with the Bishops-who on various occasions have condemned abortion and who in the aforementioned consultation, albeit dispersed throughout the world, have shown unanimous agreement concerning this doctrine-I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. This doctrine is based upon the natural law and upon the written Word of God, is transmitted by the Church’s Tradition and taught by the ordinary and universal Magisterium.
YOU SAID…"Evanglelium Vitae is not infallible, but it is an excellent papal teaching that deserves the attention of the church and of people of good will."
Of course it is infallible. It is listed along and with 20 or so oher infallible dogmas and it is named a dogma and #62 says it is infallible.
Please don’t doubt that.
Thanks
Chris
The Assumption of Mary