Origins, Christ's Power, Papacy, Unity & Infallibility

A Response to Jimmy Swaggert Ministries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

How It Came About

In the first days after Christ's resurrection and ascension to the Father, baptism was stressed as the one of the three great sacraments of initiation (into the Church family) and of reconciliation (to God); the other two being holy communion and confirmation. However, as the Lord delayed his second coming, the problem arose of those who were baptized and then later fell away. Lewd conduct and betrayal of faith to the pagan authorities was an especially painful happening. This testimony came down to us through Patristic writings, some even pre-dating parts of the bible. Many put off their baptism until their deathbeds, for fear of not being steadfast and saved. The infant Church realized the problem and discerned that God would want to offer the apostate at least one more chance for reconciliation. Consequently, second penance evolved. However, again people would delay this return, not only because they were hesitant to commit themselves to Christ in a perfect way, but because the penances for this second chance could be severe and last several years. Moral decline and apathy in faith, as expressions of our sinful nature, moved the Church to further examine the power of Christ to forgive in the community. Recalling that Christ said to forgive seventy times seven times (infinitely), and the power of the "keys" given to Peter, the Church instituted more frequent reconciliation. The sluggishness of the Church to actualize in a more positive way the needs of this awareness, was as said before, related to the fact that early on, many thought the Eschaton was immanent. In addition, the cliquish numbers, small and held together by persecution, tended to be more faithful than the larger numbers which would flood the Church after its recognition (not founding) by the state.

No Magical Powers, Christ's Power

Today, the Church views confession as Christ's special way of forgiving us through the instrumentality of the priest within that Church community which is both nurtured by our holiness and damaged by our sins. The saving action of Jesus is made available through the priest's absolution. The Church, both individually and corporately, is asking Christ to forgive and heal. Left to himself, the priest has no magical powers and may be no better or worse than other men; although, God willing, they like yourself, should always strive for chastity (both for the Western Catholic celibates and for those married among the Eastern Catholics). Ambition, lust, greed, intellectual dishonesty, etc. can be monstrous forces in the corruption of our witness. The sacrament, in a special way, helps us with a guide to see that to which we might be blind, or held in bondage, or even afraid to see.

Other Ways of Forgiveness

The Church, by no means, views the sacrament of confession as the only way to receive God's forgiveness. A simple act of sorrow and contrition, as you made on television, may also suffice. However, the sacrament of reconciliation is seen as a special help for us who are Catholics. Just as the words of Christ come to us through the Scriptures and through his preachers; so too can his caring and healing ministry come to us through these men we call priests, symbols of Christ's presence among us.

Confession - Therapeutic

Indeed, Dr. Scott Peck (a Presbyterian), in his book, The Road Less Traveled, admits that the confessional is a very therapeutic sacrament, too. Not only is it a graced encounter for Catholics, but the mere act of confessing to another fills a deep psychological need for purging the soul of what is vile and guilt crushing.

The Papacy

In regard to the Papacy, historically, he was first called the Vicar (Substituting Representative) of Peter and only later, the Vicar of Christ. This latter term described how our Lord would use the office of Peter to hold the Church together in a visible representative of Christ. It does not mean to imply that he possesses all of Christ's authority and power as you suggest (p. 16). He has legal and moral jurisdiction as well as what we would perceive as the obligation to exercise certain spiritual prerogatives; if it were more so, as you claim that we hold, he could be an utter dictator and even walk on water at a whim. If it were less so, he would be too weak to do the job God has given him. Such is not the case.

Catholic Unity

Despite the limitations of Peter personally, he revealed definitively at the Council of Jerusalem that his position held swaying power. The early Church would often call upon the Bishop of Rome to intercede and aid them. This became even more pronounced when other sources of authority receded from the picture. The See of Peter, considered unique from the beginning, would grow in prestige and power as subsequent generations passed. Today, although lacking any real material power, the See of Rome stands as the hub of the wheel of Catholic unity.

Infallibility

Infallibility, believed long before it was proclaimed during the last century, was only opposed by those who saw it as politically non-expedient (as it was in certain German states). The Pope cannot predict the weather with certainty or make up new doctrines with impunity. If a Pope teaches what the Catholic Church knows to be heresy, certain early Church authorities state that he would stop being Pope. The ramifications of this are incredible. For instance, the news media is constantly harping upon the feminists' agenda in regards to abortion. They think that the Pope could change the Church's prohibition as easily as he could allow meat on Fridays (which it modified after Vatican II) and priests to marry (which they did up until the eleventh and twelfth centuries). These are mere cases of discipline. The prohibition against abortion is a doctrinal matter. The Scriptural prohibitions and the link of a moral issue (killing a human person) to a systematic statement (the Word became Flesh) are also involved. Every child is a reflection of the Christ-child. Every abortion is an attack against the child born in Bethlehem, not to mention the unborn John the Baptist who leapt in his mother's womb when Mary visited Elizabeth. If the Pope got up tomorrow morning and said that abortion was okay, he would loose his authority. If the Pope taught that Jesus was not God, or that he did not really rise from the dead (as an Anglican bishop recently did), he would cease to be Pope. Fortunately, even when men less than ideal held the office, the Holy Spirit has guided and preserved the Church from serious departure from its Gospel mission. Only in faith and morals, in line with the tradition which helps us to interpret the Scriptures and our Christian identity, and when the Pope speaks from the chair of Peter is "infallibility" operative. It is rarely used. Indeed, the more common infallibility refers to the protection of the Holy Spirit upon the Church when its people and bishops are in unanimity on some subject of faith. This would make the creed infallible for instance. The universal acceptance of the Scriptures as the Word of God would be another instance. Perhaps, to your chagrin, this would also include the validity and utility of the Mass. Even what the holy days commemorate would fall under this infallibility. Thus Christmas (the Incarnation) and Easter (the Resurrection) would be examples, too.