Must We Accept Every Church Council? Tim Staples on Catholic Answers Focus

Tim Staples draws on his new School of Apologetics course -- Evidence for the Church -- to address the growing reluctance of some Catholics to accept the authority of church councils. Where do councils get their authority, and how much deference must a Catholic give them?

Transcript:

[powerofk]

Here's the thing: Vatican II did not change any Catholic teaching. The primary purpose of the Council was to make Catholic teaching more accessible to the public, and initiate a new evangelization age for the Church. Unfortunately, after the Council, many people took it to "Let's throw out everything traditional from the Church and call it the 'Spirit of Vatican II'!" Honestly, the major issue with Vatican II was not what it taught, but what happened after - which had more to do with it happening right as a spirit of rebellion was brewing in the West. So-called "reformers" used the so-called "Spirit of Vatican II" to justify liturgical abuses.

[bman]

I actually was going to call in to Catholic Answers and say that there should be more focus on the Orthodox vs. Sedevacantist vs SSPX vs. Faithful V II supporters debates. It’s a messy field asking what did the Church historically teach? What was fallible and infallible? Is V II in union with tradition? Does it teach things contrary to infallible doctrine? Questions around Extra Ecclesium Nulla Salus? Questions about Religious Liberty? Is V II merely pastoral? Are canonizations infallible? It’s very hard to figure out what God wants, and I would like to see CA apologists weigh in, and debunk false opinions.

[paulericn.mouafo]

Thank God for existing Catholic Answer.. i'm a cradle catholic and was feeling so lost since i came across of the non catholic doctrines and assaults out there, and lacking to structure my response until i got to know this channel. I praise the Lord for your ministry. I wich there could be a translation or other language translation of such great video or broadcast in order to strengthen our faith. Thank you guys and keep up with this great job. God bless you abundantly !!

[nofragmentado]

Thank you so much for a great explanation!!

[YardenJZ]

Some con-V2 arguments seem to be very sophisticated to those not well-informed enough (like myself, though I would not reject the council), so it would be interesting to see a follow-up episode of responses to some of the best of these arguments.

[HeavnzMiHome]

Vatican II opened the door to the Catholic Church for me.

[perfectmugwagwa]

Catholic Answers where does the SSPX reject that the Vatican II Council is invalid?

[imaliveu]

A Catholic has to believe that the Pope and Magistarium of the Church are infallible in matters of the faith and moral teachings. By rejecting any article of faith you are saying that the Pope and Magistarium of the Church are not infallible which in itself is a rejection of that authority. It's like this a person saying that they are Catholic but they don't agree with everything that the Catholic Church teaches is that person truly a Catholic or are they really a Non-Catholic Christian? If a person saying that they are a Catholic doesn't believe that the Holy Eucharist is the true presence of our Lord is that person truly a Catholic? I heard the explanation that there are those who are Catholic in body but not in spirit but that itself is an oxymoron thing to say for how can the body live without the spirit? I think the Bishops need to strait out explain what it means to be a Catholic if they don't agree with everything the Catholic Church teaches.

[bizdude]

Is this the same Tim Staples who was hammered in a debate with James White?

[johnmollica]

Thanks for adding some clarity to an apparently very divisive issue.

[joepete]

I was happy to see this topic discussed. I know from experience in our local Parish that this was a very grave problem. A priest had arrived that in short seemed very much against any teachings of Vatican II. The story is long. In short the parishioners became divided to the point where many of left the Parish. His “followers” were at the point where they referred to anyone who accepted the post Vatican II Mass as “Luke warm Catholics”. I personally on behalf of myself and others made request of this priest to have at least one Mass on the weekend celebrated in the vernacular. This did not happen.

In conclusion it is very disheartening to see division in the Church. See the development that some Catholics start looking down on others as being less reverent and less of a Catholic based on which Mass your prefer. There is room for both. And we should recognize the validity of both.

Again thank you for brining up this topic and I hope to hear more on this topic in the future.

[hervedavidh]

Michael Lofton & Nuances are smelling here !

[Wolfschanzeful]

The rejection of Church Councils is not a new phenomena. The modernists, including many priests and bishops, have been rejecting Trent for 60 years now (not to mention writings like Humanae Vitae). How about we focus on that as a starting point because mark my words, you would not have all this V2 discussion if the clergy followed Trent in the first place.

Its funny to me how one fifth (my guess) of clergy are unfaithful to Trent yet CA and many other Catholic Media types spend their energy focusing on the evil "rad trads" who reject or attack V2. Lets get our priorities straight. The entire country of German is in open revolt right now, and many others will follow. Lets not re arrange deck chairs on the Titanic

[lorenzobattista]

It is not the first time. Councils have over turned decisions of previous Councils. It is a difficult argument you make in light of this.

[Super-chad]

What happened to Frank Coffin? He resigned, or has he been behind the scenes since recently?

[jtec]

Anyone else excited to attend Mass in person again this Sunday? Been over a year, guess religious rights don't matter to some legislators.

[bngr_bngr]

Why doesn’t the Catholic Church not talk about the dangers of Islam and it’s strategy to covert Christians.

[dangelotringali]

Really? Is that really true, because the Catholic Church really avoids Ephesus. I'm an Oriental Orthodox here.

[derekbaker]

I think more laity wouldn't doubt second Vatican 2 if the Catholic Church wasn't in so many scandals, flying Pride flags, and clearly seeing some Fathers subverting the teachings. To ignore these statements above is to ignore God's children, and poor shepherding.

[cbooth]

There are two Church councils that the apostate Catholic Church used to come up with that created the mythical triune deity. As A Catholic Dictionary says: “The third Person [of the trinity] was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362…and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381.”

Some Catholics openly say that the trinity doctrine is unscriptural. For instance, trinitarian theologian, Edmond Fortman, said: "[The Old Testament] tells us nothing explicitly or by necessary implication of a Triune God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If we take the New Testament writers together they tell us there is only one God, the creator and lord of the universe, who is the Father of Jesus."