Magisterial Authority

In Magisterial Authority, Fr. Ripperger answers many common questions that the faithful might have, including:

• When is the pope infallible?
• What are the criteria for papal infallibility and how do we determine if a papal pronouncement meets those criteria?
• What does the Church have to do to finally get on the right track?
• What were some popes who committed error while being pope?
• Does papal infallibility apply to the canonization of saints?
• When are bishops infallible?
• How does all of this apply to Vatican II?
• What do we do if the pope or a bishop says something contrary to the faith?

In an age of so much confusion, get the answers that you desperately need from Fr. Ripperger!

“If the pope makes a statement without defining it, it does not enjoy infallibility.”

“Canonisations mean the person made it to heaven. It does NOT mean that they lived heroic Christian virtue in this life, necessarily, although in many cases it does… For this reason, canonization should not be viewed as a stamp of approval of everything the person taught or did.”

“The fact that John Paul II observed that the non-ordination of women to the priesthood was constantly taught in the past shows us that he is observing that teaching is de fide; it is infallible even though it has not been defined.”

“When popes make non-infallible statements, if those statements appear to be erroneous, they must be judged in light of the tradition. This is the gist of what Pope Benedict XVI called the hermeneutic of continuity."

“We must always show the pope honour or reverence as a matter of showing it to God.”

“There is great danger in succumbing to impiety when a person allows one’s interior life to be disturbed by various members of the magisterium or priest saying things contrary to the Faith. We should not be disturbed because we see the same thing playing itself out in scripture, where Peter denies Christ.”

“Scandal is when one allows what another person does to affect one’s faith.”

Transcript of Video:

(Slightly abridged and paraphrased for brevity and clarity)

Vincent: Magisterial Authority by Fr. Chad Ripperger! Ph.D., How do you like that?!

Charles: Ph.D., gosh! Magisterial authority? Pachamama.

Vincent: No. Not quite. No.

Charles: No? Pachamama doesn’t have magisterial authority? Why shouldn’t she? According to the Amazonian Synod, Pachamama has to have magisterial authority. She has to be able to define in areas of faith and morals. The fact that she is a wooden idol and doesn’t say anything and doesn’t have any brains, how is she different from any of our bish---don’t say it! Don’t finish that thought!

Vincent: Are you done being ridiculous right now?

Charles: Ridiculous? I’m being accepting!

Vincent: OK, so, Magisterial Authority, Fr. Ripperger answers a lot of questions that trads have, like: When is the pope infallible? What are the criteria for papal infallibility and how do we determine if a papal pronouncement meets those criteria? What does the Church have to do to finally get on the right track?

Charles: Throw idols in the river!

Vincent: What were some popes who committed error while being pope?

Charles: Honorius, John XXII

Vincent: Does papal infallibility apply to the canonization of saints?

Charles: Yes.

Vincent: Charles, you can’t say that, you’re killing the suspense.

Charles: Alright, no!

Vincent: When are bishops infallible?

Charles: When they repeat infallible teaching.

Vincent: Are you just going to answer all the questions right here? Alright fine. How does all of this apply to Vatican II?

Charles: With great difficulty.

Vincent: (laughs) That’s more like it! What do we do if the pope or a bishop says something contrary to the faith?

Charles: We hold our breaths till we turn blue.

Vincent: Something like that. I just want to read three good quotes to show you Fr. Ripperger’s approach on this. Now this is an interesting quote:

“We must always show the pope honour or reverence as a matter of showing it to God.”

Charles: That’s why I always kissed Cardinal Mahony’s ring.

Vincent: Here is another one:

“There is great danger in succumbing to impiety when a person allows one’s interior life to be disturbed by various members of the magisterium or priest saying things contrary to the Faith. We should not be disturbed because we see the same thing playing itself out in scripture, where Peter denies Christ.”

Charles: Very true!

Vincent: This last one is very interesting because I didn’t realize this about scandal. He defines scandal here:

“Scandal is when one allows what another person does to affect one’s faith.”

That’s interesting because I thought by the very act itself, scandal is created. But this seems to imply that it’s only scandal if you react poorly.

Charles: Well I always think of what my late father used to say: those who are easily scandalized, generally enjoy it a whole lot. “Oh that’s terrible, sinful… and then what did she do?” “Well I don’t know if I should tell you this, it gets really bad… oh no, it’s alright. It’s terrible, awful.” “You know, I think you’re showing a little too much curiosity here… oh no it’s for her own good. So then what?”