About that Syllabus of Errors….Guess What Else Pius IX Condemned?

Enemies of so-called “innovations” in Vatican II like to cite the Syllabus of Errors in order to claim that the Council contains Modernist heresies. For example, they like to cite No. 15, in which Pius IX condemns the belief that “Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.” This, say disciples of Lefebvre, contradicts Dignitatis Humanae. DH says, “The human person has a right to religious freedom.”

I am going to be examining some of these so-called “contradictions” in a series of upcoming posts. But in the meantime, guess what else Pius IX condemns in that Syllabus?

22. The obligation by which Catholic teachers and authors are strictly bound is confined to those things only which are proposed to universal belief as dogmas of faith by the infallible judgment of the Church.

None of that, “I only have to mind what’s infallible. If it’s not a dogma, I am not bound to it.” This is a condemned belief.

23. Roman pontiffs and ecumenical councils have wandered outside the limits of their powers, have usurped the rights of princes, and have even erred in defining matters of faith and morals.

These pre-Vatican II documents are full of all kinds of things that would surprise you! Aren’t they? So those who say that Vatican II has erred in contradicting Pius IX are committing an error condemned by … Pius IX! How fascinating that is!

The next time someone says to you, “Vatican II contains errors”; the next time someone says to you, “But that’s not dogmatic, I can disregard that”…tell them that they are a Modernist and are speaking heresies condemned by Pius IX.

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