Vatican Council I

An Assertion of the Pope’s Spiritual and Moral Authority

Vatican Council I Pope Pius IX called all bishops to Rome for

Vatican Council I 1869-1870Remember: this is the Pope who saw the loss

of the Papal states and the flood of new”Isms”He wants to cement the spiritual authority of the

papacy The main question was the pope’s infallibility. Infallible=the pope is incapable of error when

he officially ( Ex Cathedra, or “from the chair of Peter”) proclaims a doctrine of faith or morals.

Only 2 doctrines have actually been defined ex cathedra Immaculate

Conception of Mary

>Mary was free from original sin from the moment she was conceived.

The Assumption of Mary

>Mary’s body did not undergo bodily corruption after her death, but she was “assumed” into heaven

The Church Promotes Social Justice Remember the background: Capitalism,

Marxism,the horrible conditions of industrialism

Welfare societies,schools, hospitals for the working class

Pope Leo XIII> Rerum Novarum =On the Condition of Workers >1891

Pope Leo XIII criticized both extreme socialism and extreme capitalism.

…social Justice

Pope Leo XIII taught that Christianity emphasizes both the dignity of the human person and the common good.

Defends the worker’s rights to fair wages Right to decent working conditions Right to trade unions Right to collective bargaining with

management.