What is it that Roman Catholics expect with they quote protestants in this fashion? Do they expect us to genuflect and kiss Luther's ring? We are protestants. We believe in sola Scriptura . We know that all men put their pants on one legs at a time. We know that men and councils can and do err.**
If we don't believe in the infallibility of your pope, we certainly do not believe it for the likes of a Luther. Do you think we are so stupid that we'll give up our principles for one erroneous statement?
** 3. All synods or councils, since the Apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both. (Westminster Confession of Faith)
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Scripture text: Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition
Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.
Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.
Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.
Amen.
" Don't believe them, believe US! We are smarter and wiser than they." Seriously, how would they know that?
Which, ironically, is a "knowledge" Protestants never seem to apply to the man they see in the mirror. In practice, it's always "men and councils can and do err ... except for me".
It is not to convince you, but to impeach the position that your view is "stare decisis". It shows that there is not even unanimity between the garden variety Protestant and the Fathers of the Reformation on the most basic of issues of theology and dogma. In the absence of any authority, as Luther feared, every milkmaid and farmhand thinks they interpret scripture correctly.
It all points to a corruption of the concept of Sola Fide in which belief alone has morphed into what every I believe is enough...Sola Puto.