Those with an ax to grind about the Catholic Church, the papacy in general, and Pope Benedict XVI in particular, point to the Pope’s recent apologies about a variety of subjects as evidence of the Church’s failure and the absurdity of the doctrine of papal infallibility. In doing so, they miss a critical lesson about the real meaning of perfection and what it means to love deeply — a lesson which can enrich all of our lives, Catholic or not.
I will leave a full explanation of the Doctrine of Infallibility to those who believe in it. But this much I know, it’s far more complex than the commonly accepted notion that the Pope, by virtue of his office, can not make a mistake. So instead of using the missteps of those whose beliefs we do not share to prove how smart we are for choosing not to do so, we can learn from this phenomenon of a global religious leader having the moral courage and spiritual sensitivity to apologize for his actions.
The Pope’s apologies remind me of the ancient practice described in Leviticus, Chapter 6, in which the Kohen Gadol, the Israelite High Priest atoned for his own personal sins before attempting to do so for the rest of the community on Yom Kippur. He did so, in full public view and with great ceremony.
The High Priest’s willingness to admit and atone for his own sins made him a better advocate on behalf of his people. He was a better priest, not because he was perfect, but because he appreciated that he and those he served were profoundly alike in their spiritual struggles.
There may be much wrong with the Roman Catholic Church, and Pope Benedict’s statements about Islam, Holocaust denying Bishops, and sex abuse by priests. But his willingness to offer apologies for those statements and the hurt they have caused, remind us that sacredness and imperfection can coexist quite nicely. None of us, not even the Pope, needs to be perfect in order to be close to the God in whom we believe.
In a world which promises picture perfect everything, Pope Benedict reminds us of the ancient biblical insight that among the definitions of infallible, is the unfailing nature of our commitment to the tradition and the people we love. Neither needs to be flawless to be perfect; they simply need to be perfect for us. And when they are, members are free to criticize, leaders able to apologize and the rest of us able to learn from both.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted April 14, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Apologizing for harm we can’t undo is good. Preventing harm we can prevent, however, is better. We’d rather see Benedict taking concrete action to safeguard vulnerable children now, instead of making questionable statement to adults who’ve already been wounded.
David Clohessy
National Director, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
7234 Arsenal Street
St. Louis MO 63143
314 566 9790
SNAPnetwork.org
posted April 14, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Brad: I see what you’re trying to drive toward, but Papal Infallibility does not, strictly speaking, apply to a Pope “by virtue of his office, being unable to make a mistake.” Papal infallibility is the dogma in Catholic theology that,the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error when he declares or promulgates to the Church a ** dogmatic teaching on faith or morals ** as being contained in divine revelation, or at least being intimately connected to divine revelation. The infallibility is applied to **the teaching** on faith and morals. And it does not state that the Pope cannot commit sin in his own personal life. So it’s about a teaching coming from the church. I don’t think the Pope was officially teaching anything here.
posted April 14, 2009 at 11:21 pm
As a young man I had an opportunity to meet Pope John Paul in person at the Vatican and was truly moved by the experience; however, as moved as I was about the experience, it dawned on me that the pope, not unlike the president of the United States, is just a man. A man that has been given the position of great influence and power.
As Stan Lee probably put it best “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
We used to laugh as children when my younger sister would call the pope “The president of priests.” In reality, isn’t that the popes job, to ensure proper leadership over the Catholic Church?
It is not my place to pass judgement on another man, and will not do so about the pope and his actions. I just thought I’d offer a couple of views form the Catholic side of the street. =)
posted April 15, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Obviously, the Pope is no Rabbi Schneerman.
posted April 22, 2009 at 11:56 am
Pope Benedikt should never be Pope he insults people then he says he is sorry, what a Leader is that. He was in the Nazi Military and so on and so on.
posted May 12, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Mr.Hirschfeld said it correctly: papal infallability is about the faith and moral issues, not personal. The pope, as any other man, can make mistakes, yes. No one ever said he could not. And as the leader of a world religion it only shows the man’s greatness if he is willing and capable of admitting his mistakes. As a big wheel he is very easily and often cheaply criticized. No doubt he must have done a lot of things well to be chosen by his peers to lead the church! Whether Jew or Christian, we should remember that God is compassionate and forgiving. As He expects us to be. The pedophiles in the church was/is a black page, yes, and henceforth screening of priests should be much stricter. Sad and deplorable as it is the percentage of culprits in the RC church is much smaller than in other like organizations.
posted March 1, 2011 at 10:03 am
Hello. And Bye.