The Second Vatican Council
HAVING ECUMENICAL COUNCIL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS BIBLICAL By Lawrence Luna
Question:
Why is it that the Catholic Church have many ecumenical councils such as Council of Trent, Vatican 1, Vatican 2, and others where in the first place that we have already the Bible as our source of faith and morals, as well with the instructions on how to be a good person and will have salvation?
Answer:
Ecumenical Councils are great assemblies of Bishops representing the whole Church. They are gathered to discuss an important problem, condemn a heresy, or to implement the necessary measures for the good welfare of the Church.
The Pope can able to summon an Ecumenical Council for the benefit of the Church and this is part of Christ’s authority given to St. Peter and to his successor, the Pope (Mat 16:18).
Aside from that, the Bishops have the authority to discuss things and to have implementations through the council since Christ also mentioned that whatsoever you shall bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Mat 18:18). We must remember that Ecumenical Councils are guided by the Holy Spirit and no reason for such councils to commit errors especially in faith and morals (Jn 14:15-31, Jn 16:4-15).
In an Ecumenical Council, it is the Pope who will have the final decision and having this council is biblical. An example of this was that the Council of Jerusalem and the issue was all about the circumcision (Mosaic Law). Peter judged that it is not anymore necessary in order to become member of the Church (Acts 15:1-21).
This means that having Ecumenical Councils, including the authority of the Pope and the Bishops, is biblical at all.