The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-12-23
The Coming Council.

The day appointed for the assembling of
the Catholic council is close at hand. Sew
eral hundred bishops have already arrived
at Rome, and by the Sth, the entire dele
cations will probably be in the Holy city.
Perhaps no event OF civil character has
occurred within century that has attracted
so much and as wide an attention, and as
general and profound an interest, as will be
attached to the session Of the coming week.
Catholicism is worldwide. 1t is more cos
mopolltan. i'm its extent thar any other faith;
and hence, its votaries are found wherever
there is human kind; and the interest in the
council will extend into every country and
among every people.
Catholic believers are not only ones who
will watch the proceedings CT this body
with absorbing interest. The great rival OF
Catholicism, Professionalism, is on the qui'
UiUe with reference to the gathering of the
Romish dignitaries. It.. has profound in
terest in what may occur during the sess.
ion. Every right and polite measure
whereby Catholicism may be popularized,
extended, and rendered more attractive and
/ powerful, will, to some considerable extent,
| be blow at the spread of Professionalism.
Every palpable blunder by the former will
be welcomed by the latter as an aid to its
growth anu progress; for it is true tina,
| the civilized world is mainly Catholic and
| Protestant, and that each thrives not only
upon its own particular excelencies, but
derives strength from the weakness and
faults of the other. 1-
| If there do occur dissension In the coun-
Gil, it will probably take place upon the
question of infallibility, and with reference
to the respective powers of pope and coun
| Gil. 1t has been said that the papal ruler
has stated that he regards the council as
merely advisory; and that he has sum,
moned it; not to create, but to indorse the
changes which he has decided upon. |
this be true, it would scarcely seem that
body of men which has made and unmade
popes, in the past, will consent to yield {
superiority which has rarely been contest
I ed. In fact, the original pope-leavine
st. Peter out Of the question-was thu
creation OF a council. Logics lily, the crea
ture does not usually take precedence o
the creator From the first council Of
Nice down to to the fifteenth century
councils, the pope was subject to rebuke
to deposition, accommodation, trial, ant
punishment by the Ecumenlcal bodies
Benoit XIII. was deposed by an Ecumen
lcal, council, as was also Gregory XII. TIL,
| Sane COUNCIL WHICH uHSeateu JOnn AAIll
not only declared by this act its sureriorit,
to the pope, but it took the pains to pass
resolution to that effect, in which tn,
superiority was announced in explicit terms
The elements of the present council viii
be less liable to cross the purposes Of tn,
pope than were many Of the members .
formeI councils In earlier days, many G
the bishops were the rivals of, or superio
TO- him Of Rome, and who afterward grad
ually absorbed portion of each, until the,
were weakened to subjects, and he strength
ened to the position of ruler. The mem
bers of this council are largely of the Lati
race. Ofthis race, the devotion to Cath
olicism is profound; and, although liberal
ism has taken vigorous root in France, an,
has fourished somewhat in Italy, the grea
majority Of the Latin bishops are firm il
their allegiance to the papal see, and thei
undivided support may be expected Q
almost any measure which the suprem
pontif may regard as vital. 1t is doubtfl
whether ultramontanism in Europe, an
J the diffuse episcopal elements from all tn
other portions of the world, will form eithe
!, a cohesive or even a numerically respecta
J BILE opposition. Chicago Times.