3.1. What is an ecumenical council of the Church?

3 - Church Councils and Vatican II — Purpose, Errors, and Consequences
Written By Steve John

An ecumenical council is a solemn assembly of the bishops of the world, called and presided over by the pope, to define doctrine, settle disputes, or regulate discipline. When legitimately convoked and when defining matters of faith or morals with the intention to bind the whole Church, a council is infallible.

Past ecumenical councils include:

  • Nicaea (325 AD) — condemned Arianism;

  • Trent (1545–1563) — defined doctrine against Protestantism;

  • Vatican (1869–1870) — defined papal infallibility.

Councils must always reaffirm the traditional doctrine of the Church and cannot contradict past teachings. If they do, they cannot be legitimate.

Steve John
Previous

2.10. If the Vatican II “popes” are formal heretics, what does that make them? Just bad popes?
Next

3.2. What is Vatican II? Who called it, and why?