It is often pointed out that the House of Justice is infallibly guided when it legislates to fill the gaps intentionally left by Baha'u'llah in the fabric of His laws. That is, that the House is guided in the laws the House itself creates. This is true of course, but as the Guardian states, the House is also infallible in application of the laws revealed by the Manifestation. In his "Dispensation" letter, Shoghi Effendi described the House of Justice as the body on which Baha'u'llah conferred the authority not only to supplement, but also to "apply" the laws revealed by Baha'u'llah. (WOB 145)
Even this is not a complete description of the divine protection from error given to the acts of the House, because it solely addresses the legislative function. The Writings endow the Universal House of Justice with "legislative, executive and judicial powers." (The Universal House of Justice, "Constitution of the Universal House of Justice," p. 8) I suggest that in the following passage from the "Dispensation" in which he elucidates the implications of Baha'u'llah's promise of divine guidance to that Body, Shoghi Effendi is stating that in performing all three of these functions, the House is under Baha'u'llah's Covenant of infallibility [brackets mine]: "The Administrative Order of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh must in no wise be regarded as purely democratic in character inasmuch as the basic assumption which requires all democracies to depend fundamentally upon getting their mandate from the people is altogether lacking in this Dispensation. In the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Faith [executive function], in the enactment of the legislation necessary to supplement the laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas [legislative function], the members of the Universal House of Justice, it should be borne in mind, are not, as Bahá'u'lláh's utterances clearly imply, responsible to those whom they represent, nor are they allowed to be governed by the feelings, the general opinion, and even the convictions of the mass of the faithful, or of those who directly elect them. They are to follow, in a prayerful attitude, the dictates and promptings of their conscience. They may, indeed they must, acquaint themselves with the conditions prevailing among the community, must weigh dispassionately in their minds the merits of any case presented for their consideration [judicial], but must reserve for themselves the right of an unfettered decision. 'God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth,' is Bahá'u'lláh's incontrovertible assurance. They, and not the body of those who either directly or indirectly elect them, have thus been made the recipients of the divine guidance which is at once the life-blood and ultimate safeguard of this Revelation. (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 153) This illustrates the principle that the authority of the House of Justice is comprehensive in its scope. (That is stated in a letter from the House of Justice which I cannot locate; I would appreciate assistance). Brent ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
