March 28, 1871 - Ignatius von Döllinger Writes Against Infallibility of the Pope

John Joseph Döllinger, painted portrait, 19th century. Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The First Vatican Council (1869–1870) formally defined the doctrine of papal infallibility, teaching that the pope is preserved from error when speaking ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals. The declaration was controversial, even within Catholic circles.

Ignaz von Döllinger, a respected German theologian and church historian, refused to accept the new dogma. In a letter dated March 28, 1871, he wrote, “as a Christian, as a theologian, as a historian, as a citizen I cannot accept this dogma.” He argued that the historical record did not support such a sweeping claim.

Döllinger was excommunicated in 1873. His opposition contributed to the formation of the Old Catholic movement, which rejected papal infallibility while retaining many elements of Catholic tradition.

The controversy reflects the broader nineteenth-century struggle between centralized ecclesiastical authority and historical-critical scholarship. Döllinger’s dissent illustrates that doctrinal definitions, even when formally declared, often provoke intense theological debate.

The issue of authority—who speaks definitively for the church—remains central to Christian ecclesiology. March 28 marks a moment when that question became sharply contested.