Brian Tierney, in _The Origins of Papal Infallibility: 1150-1350_
(1972) argues that the doctrine first gained prominence in the early 14th
century among the Spiritual Franciscans who were trying to safeguard
earlier papal pronouncements on the poverty of Jesus and the apostles from
John XXII's rejection of the idea. John, confronted by an idea of
infallibility that would check his (or any pope's) sovereignty, rejected
infallibility as a doctrine sent from the devil. It only re-emerged in
the fifteenth century when popes began to embrace it to counter the
Conciliar movement in the post-Great Schism church, though it was not
formally declared until 1870. (This, at least, is how I remember his basic
argument.)
Hans Kung's _How the Pope Became Infallible_ summarizes--with a
good dash of invective--the history of the First Vat. Council and the
irregularities that some historians see in the deliberations of the
Council on the question of papal infallibility. Chiefly, some argue that
all other ecumenical councils preceded my unanimous vote on questions of
dogma while Vat I passed infallibility with a majority vote after some
bishops had already left the council in protest over the whole issue of
infallibility. It's pretty fascinating stuff.
As I recall, Kung was blasted for his historical critique of
infallibility, but Tierney's careful tracing of its questionable medieval
roots is far more damaging to the concept.
John S.
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John Shinners e-mail:[log in to unmask]
Chair and Professor Phone: (office): (219) 284-4494
Humanistic Studies Program Phone (dept.): (219) 284-4501
Saint Mary's College Fax: (219) 284-4716
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
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