Authority in the Church: Teaching and Governing

 Christ gave Apostles His supernatural authority  “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:18-19)  Pope and Bishops are the Apostles’ successors  Hierarchy: Ranking of those in authority  Structure seen in early Church  Has expanded since then

 Pope has “primacy” (first place) in the Church  Successor of Peter  “On this rock I will build my Church”  Visible head of the Church  Represents Christ, the invisible head  Bishops  Successors of the Apostles  A shepherd of a specific local part of the Church  The hierarchy’s job is to serve the people  Pope’s title: Servus Servorum Dei (servant of the servants of God)

 People see Church’s law as restrictive  Really, when people understand the law they can be more free to enjoy living within it  It affects them whether or not they know about it because whether or not they agree, the teachings of the Church are true  i.e. law of gravity

 Constant teaching of the Church on matters of faith and morals will be free from error  Given so that people can trust the Church  Belongs to the Church as a whole  In a special way to the Pope and the Bishops

 Matter of faith and morals  Must be speaking to the Church as a whole  Ex Cathedra  “from the chair of authority”  Must be intending to speak as the Pope, not as a bishop or normal person  Must be intending to pronounce and unchangeable decision

 Been accepted from the beginning of the Church  Not defined (officially declared) until 1870  First Vatican Council  An example of the Development of Doctrine  Pope is not infallible only because the Council said he was  Rather, it said he was infallible because he is in fact infallible  While he can be infallible, the pope is not impeccable  Popes are not sinless; they are people too!

 Teaching office of the Church  Extraordinary Magisterium  Solemn and formal exercise of the Church’s role as teacher  i.e. councils  Always authoritative  Ordinary Magisterium  Normal and regular exercise of the Church’s role as teacher  Also always authoritative  i.e. Encyclicals, synods, and bishop instruction

 Doctrine has to do with what we believe  Church cannot just change these things even if they want to, as they have been revealed by God  Discipline has to do with what we do  Rules for how we act and worship  i.e. fasting, not eating meat on certain days in lent, holy days of obligation, fasting before Communion  Church can change these things  Church has equal authority over both  We must be obedient to both