Magisterial Authority is a must read for anyone concerned about events today. Today, much confusion is created when a current Pope appears to contradict an earlier Pope, council, or whatever magisterial act you like, and to make things worse, there are plenty of yes men who will tell you that you are nuts for seeing the obvious contradiction in papal statements. How can this be? Have the gates of hell prevailed? In this reprint of several articles originally appearing in Christian Order, Fr. Ripperger helps us to understand the theological principles and the limits of magisterial authority, as well as what one ought to do when Popes contradict each other.
Magisterial Authority – Table of Contents
I: PAPAL INFALLIBILITY
1. Immediate Principles
2. Popes Who have Committed Error While Pope
3. Qualities of Infallible Statements
II: VARIOUS ORGANS OF INFALLIBILITY
1. When is the Pope Infallible?
2. When Are the Bishops Infallible?
3. Solemn Condemnations
4. De Fide non Definita
A. Patristics
B. Theologians
C. Sensus Fidelium or Passive Infallibility
D. The Assent Due to Non-infallible Statements of the Church
Synesis
Gnome
III: PRINCIPLES OF JUDGMENT
A. Natural Principles
B. Supernatural Principles
IV: THE PROPER RESPONSE TO AN ERRING MAGISTERIAL MEMBER