Catholic Answers Live #12553 Did Vatican 1 Go Too Far on Papal Authority and Tradition? - Ben Bollinger
Jan 20, 2026
Ben Bollinger, a convert from Eastern Orthodoxy and a writer focusing on Catholic-Eastern Orthodox relations, delves into the complexities of papal authority as outlined in Vatican I. He discusses how this council draws on ancient teachings and traces its roots to Peter's role. The 1995 Vatican clarification on the filioque and its implications are examined, alongside beneficial practices Catholics might adopt from Orthodoxy, like reverent liturgy. He also addresses the Orthodox rejection of the Immaculate Conception and highlights the differences in views on contraception.
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Personal Journey From Orthodoxy To Catholicism
- Ben Bollinger converted from Eastern Orthodoxy to Catholicism after years of study and positive Orthodox experiences.
- He valued Orthodox liturgy and people but concluded Catholic positions on key disputes were stronger.
Vatican I Builds On Early Peter Primacy
- Vatican I's papal teachings flow from early Church recognition of Peter's primacy rather than invention in 1870.
- Ben Bollinger traces papal infallibility and universal jurisdiction back to councils and the role of Peter in Rome.
Filioque Dialogue Highlights Shared Ground
- The 1995 Filioque clarification emphasized shared language about procession but didn't resolve historic Eastern objections.
- Ben argues the Latin claim that the Father remains the ultimate origin can align with Greek theology yet Eastern rejection persists.
