If you could know with certainty that one organization or individual could only speak and teach the truth, would you always heed what you heard? Saint Paul tells us in 1 Tim 3:15, “You should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” The Catholic Church, established by Jesus Christ, built on the rock (Saint Peter), and guided by the Holy Spirit, speaks and teaches infallibly.

Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Dictionary defines “infallibility” as the inability to err in teaching the truth. In theology, it refers to: (1) the Church, in that she preserves and teaches the deposit of truth as revealed by Christ; (2) the Roman Pontiff, when he teaches ex cathedra in matters of faith or morals, and indicates that the doctrine is to be believed by all the faithful; (3) the College of Bishops, when speaking in union with the Pope in matters of faith and morals, agreeing that a doctrine must be held by the universal Church, and the doctrine is promulgated by the Pontiff. (Ex cathedra is Latin for “from the chair” of Saint Peter.)

The Apostles were lucky. They lived with Jesus and witnessed His teachings, miracles, and love. They heard Jesus say, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” All but one of the Twelve followed Jesus and believed in Him and faithfully lived and preached His gospel. Can you imagine living with God and not answering His call? I can’t.

Just as the Apostles were called, we are also called. Even though Jesus no longer lives and teaches and loves among us as He did two thousand years ago, He still expects us to respond to His call. Jesus has given us the means to hear His authentic teaching in this age, just as He has in every age since the Apostles. He left us the charism of infallibility. If it were not for this charism of infallibility found in His Church, every man, woman, and child born after the Apostles would lack the means to know, preach, and live the teachings of Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 889) says, “In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the Apostles, Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in His own infallibility.” The Apostles heard and witnessed the Truth through God who lived among them. We hear and witness the Truth through God’s Church that lives among us. Just as Jesus could only teach infallibly, the Church can only teach infallibly. In Mt 28:20, Jesus says, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age [world].” How is He with us? He is visibly with us through His visible Church. The Church is the earthly extension of Jesus Christ.

It is important not to confuse “infallibility” with “inerrancy” when talking about the Church, the Pope, and the Bible. Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Dictionary defines “inerrancy” as the absence of error, usually applied to the Bible as the revealed Word of God, which teaches “firmly, faithfully, and without error…that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures.” (Vatican II, Dei Verbum, 11)

Everything written in the Bible is without error; but not everything written in the Bible is clearly defined and easily understood. Every Christian accepts the inerrancy of Sacred Scripture; but not every Christian accepts the infallibility of the Church. This misguided position taken by most non-Catholic Christians cannot be defended. Christians cannot believe in Bible inerrancy without believing in Church infallibility. If the Bible is inerrant then the Church is infallible. Saint Augustine wrote in the late 4th century, “I would not believe the authority of the Scriptures except for the authority of the Catholic Church.” Why did he say this? He understood that a fallible Church could not produce an inerrant book. Think about this. The Catholic Church gave us the New Testament (NT) canon with its 27 books. If the Church is not infallible, then maybe the Bible should contain more than 27 books. Maybe it should contain less that 27. How can any Christian be sure? He can’t without relying on an infallible source. That infallible source is the Catholic Church. Think about this. If a non-Christian were to read the Bible for the first time, he would not see or understand the dogma of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit was not revealed to God’s chosen people in the Old Testament, and it wasn’t clearly defined in the NT. God’s infallible Church revealed the full Dogma of the Trinity.

Through the charism of infallibility we hear the same voice of Christ that the Apostles heard. We hear it through the Church, the Pope, and the Bishops in union with him. To accept the Church as the infallible teacher and interpreter of the Word of God is perhaps the greatest challenge we face as Catholic Christians. We may see it as an infringement on our freedom of choice. Think about this. A fish cannot live out of water. Therefore a fish is free and alive as long as he stays in water. The same is true for the Catholic Christians. He can only find true freedom in knowing and living the Truth found in God’s infallible Church.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 107, 889-891, 2032-2037. Also, pull out your “Catholic” Bible and reference Mt 5:14; Mt 16:17-19; 18:17; 28:18-20; Lk 10:16; Jn 14:6-7; 1 Tim 6:20; Rev 2:25.