Reply 1

"HOW can a Church that is the pillar and foundation of truth err? Julie merely states, 'Nowhere in the verse is an infallible church assumed'. For some reason, she cannot give a reason to back her statement up. I agree in her statement that God is the protector and rock. However, for some reason, she does not think this is infallibility. If God protects them from erring, isn't this infallibility?"

Once again my opponent is forced to read his presupposition into the verse. He starts off with the conclusion: "Rome is infallible" and then goes backward into the text to prove His point, rather than letting the text speak for itself.

There is nothing which states that the Church would function infallibly or inerrantly. Rather, what is infallible is the Truth of God itself. Now, the last time I checked, we were debating Sola Scriptura, so I'll end our banter on Roman Catholic epistemology with this note: The "infallibility of the Church" is not a Biblically-supported doctrine. The Bible informs us that the gates of hell would not prevail over His Church, He promises her a guide and a comforter, He gives us His Word, and gives her the awesome privilege of being able to hold us His Word up before the nations as the pillar and support of the truth. But while my opponent would love to read his presupposition into the text, Scripture does not promise us an infallible Magisterium, nor does it say that a Church made up of sinners will never stumble. Nevertheless, it does tell us the Church would never be without the Spirit, and would always have the unfailing Truth of God's Word.

My opponent has the burden to demonstrate otherwise, and it is his burden alone.

"Of course, Paul meant truth that does not contain any error. Therefore if the Church proclaims the Truth, it is infallible. Therefore when the Church binds, and since God binds as well, and God is infallible, then when the Church binds, it is infallible."

My opponent's logic is astonishing