The Los Angeles Times continues to demonstrate that it is simply unable to reliably provide truthful information about the Catholic faith. A June 27, 2008, book review in the Los Angeles Times, by staffer William Lobdell, falsely claims,
The concept of papal infallibility wasn't introduced until 1870, and the only infallible statement issued by a pope was in 1950 when Pius XII declared that Mary, upon her death, was assumed bodily into heaven.
There are two significant errors in this one sentence. First: Lobdell is wrong that the "concept of papal infallibility wasn't introduced until 1870." Although the doctrine was not formally defined until 1870 at the First Vatican Council, its "concept" (as Lobdell would say) can be traced back to the earliest years of the Church. For example, in 256 A.D., Cyprian of Carthage wrote, "Would heretics dare to come to the very seat of Peter whence apostolic faith is derived and whither no errors can come." The roots of papal infallibility are found in Scripture. (Among other passages, see Matt. 16:17-19, John 21:15–17, and 1 Tim. 3-15.) (Great resources: "Papal Infallibility" and "How to Argue for Papal Infallibility" at Catholic Answers.)
Patrick Madrid, from his excellent book, Pope Fiction, helpfully informs us:
Papal infallibility wasn't "invented" in 1870, any more than the doctrine of the Trinity was "invented" in A.D. 325 at the Council of Nicea. That was when the Church determined it should be formally defined, so as to eliminate any ambiguity or error about what, exactly, the doctrine meant. (p. 135)
Second: Lobdell is wrong that "the only infallible statement issued by a pope was in 1950" by Pope Pius XII. At least two have been issued. In a 1993 address on this very topic, Pope John Paul II cited an 1854 statement by Pius IX in addition to the 1950 statement by Pius XII. Catholic scholars cite additional ones. In 1985, a Catholic theologian identified seven ex cathedra documents, the earliest being from the fifth century (source).
The Times owes its readers some corrections ... again.
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