Editing Infallibility (section)

===Christianity===
{{See also|Biblical infallibility|Biblical inerrancy|Infallibility of the Church|Papal infallibility}}
''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church'' defines infallibility as "Inability to err in teaching revealed truth".<ref>Cross, F. L. and Livingstone, E. A. (eds), "infallibility" in ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church'', p. 831. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. {{ISBN|0-19-211655-X}}</ref> [[Catholic theology|Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox theology]] claim that the [[Christian Church|Church]] is infallible, but disagree as to where infallibility exists, whether in doctrines, scripture, or church authorities.

In Catholic theology, [[Jesus]], who is the Truth, is infallible,<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p4.htm#889 CCC 889]</ref> but only a special act of teaching by the church's bishops may properly be called "infallible". According to the [[First Vatican Council]] (1869–1871) and as reaffirmed at [[Vatican II]] (1962–1965), the earthly head of the Catholic Church, [[the Pope]], is infallible when speaking ''[[ex cathedra]]'' on matters of faith and morals (that is, when he explicitly intends to use his papal office to teach the whole Church definitively and irreformably on matters which deal directly with faith and morals).<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://moses.creighton.edu/csrs/news/F96-1.html|title = The History and Future of Papal Infallibility|last = Burke|first = Ronald|date = Fall 1996|access-date = Oct 10, 2015}}</ref> However, [[papal infallibility]] does not extend beyond such cases, thus making it possible for a Pope to sin and to be incorrect.<ref name="CCC890">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P26.HTM |work=Catechism of the Catholic Church |title=Chapter 3, Article 9: I believe in the Holy Catholic Church |publisher=Vatican Publishing House |date=2003-11-04<!--from the bottom of the title page--> |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> Papal infallibility also belongs to the body of [[Bishops in the Catholic Church|bishop]]s as a whole, when, in doctrinal unity with the pope, they solemnly teach a doctrine as true.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.catholic.com/tracts/papal-infallibility|title = Papal Infallibility|date = August 10, 2004|access-date = October 11, 2015|website = Catholic Answers|last = Brom|first = Robert|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130104141224/http://www.catholic.com/tracts/papal-infallibility|archive-date = January 4, 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In contrast, Protestant and non-denominational Christian churches believe that the Christian Church is indeed fallible, as evidenced by the requirement of Christ's sacrifice on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, including those of his Church, and that [[Sola scriptura|only God's word in scripture]] is infallible. They also completely reject the Catholic claim regarding papal infallibility, citing not just scriptural reasons, but also the many times popes have contradicted each other and the history of mistakes committed by many popes throughout Roman Catholic Church history.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Because of the complexity in defining infallibility, some Protestant and non-denominational views confuse papal infallibility with [[impeccability]], as if the Pope were immune from sin.<ref>[http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/does-papal-infallibility-mean-the-pope-is-perfect-or-inerrant Does papal infallibility mean the pope is perfect or inerrant?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317092342/http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/does-papal-infallibility-mean-the-pope-is-perfect-or-inerrant |date=2013-03-17 }}. Catholic Answers. Retrieved: 23 March 2013.</ref> This is not the Catholic Church's doctrine, which concedes that Popes can sin and may even contradict one another's personal theological opinions.<ref name="CCC890"/> It is evident that the Pope can sin (which every Pope explicitly states in the [[Confiteor]], and whenever he receives the [[Sacrament of Penance]]) and a Pope may even succumb to [[Heresy in Christianity|heresy]], as suggested in the condemnation by the [[Third Council of Constantinople]] (13th and 16th session) which [[anathema|anathematized]] [[Pope Honorius I]] for supporting the heresy of [[monothelitism]], and which [[Pope John XXII]] admitted when he retracted his views on the [[beatific vision]].<ref>[[Charles A. Coulombe|Coulombe, Charles]] (2003). ''Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes''. Citadel Press. [https://books.google.com/books?id=4tbYF51StSQC&pg=PA293 p. 293]. {{ISBN|0-8065-2370-0}}.</ref>