The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-16
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1869.
THE GOUNENICAL COUNCIL.

THE GCUKBNICAL COUNCIL.
IT is great misfortune to the world that the
policy of the Catholic Church is controlled
entirely by small body of Italian ecclesias-
tics, who contrive to retain all the highest
offices of the Church, including the Pope
dom in their own hands, and who really
know little or nothing about the requirements
of the age in which they live. The men about
the court of Rome exist in a little world of
their own, and all their ideas are colored by
surroundings that are as different as possible
from those of the Catholic clergy in such
countries as France, England, and the United
States. AS is always the case with mon in
such q situation, they are retrogressive rather
than progressive, and they are utterly una
BILE to comprehend the nature and ex-
tent of the antagonism to the
Roman Church that exists outside
of Italy. They do not know or care to know
the strength of their enemies, and they reso-
lutely prosecute policy that binds hand and
foot the jealous Catholics who are endeavor-
ing to advance the interests of their religion
in all parts of the world The protest of
Father Hyacinthe is an example of the dissatis-
faction and disgust that exist among the in
teIligent Catholics who are out of the range of
the Vatican influences, and who know by many
and bitter experiences how mistaken many
of the actions of the Pope andhis counsellors
are.
1t was we'll understood that the great coun-
Gil called by the Pope is designed to ratify
decisions already resolved upon, the principal
dogmas to be asserted being the personal in
fallibility of the Pope and the assumption of
the Virgin 1t was knowledge of the real
character of the council that called forth the
protest of Father Hyacinthe. We scarcely,
however, expected that anything of the kind
would be openly acknowledged at Rome,
and it is certainly a remarkable exam
pie of the total inability of the rulers of
the Church to comprehend the real
situation, that the official organ of the
Pope, the CSOittG CattoIc0, should say
plainly, as it is reported to do by a cable
despatch, ''That the bishops have been sum-
moned to the council not to deliberate on and
decide questions by vote of the majority
but to ratify decisions already resolved upon
by the Sovereign and Infallible Pontiff."
The doctrine of the Church always has
been that the decision of a universal council,
after free and impartial discussion, was the
voice of the Church. In such a council the
Pope has but one voice and vote, the same as
any other bishop, and it is essential that the
most unrestrained freedom of debate should
be allowed in order to make the conclusions
of the council binding. If there is any re-
straint upon the discussions, if every member
of the council is not allowed to speak his
mind freely and to vote according to his con-
science, there are hosts of Catholics who
will refuse to recognize the decisions
as being those of real council
of the Church. One prominent clergyman
has already announced his position in clear,
unmistakable terms, and if what the official
organ of the Vatican Court says proves true,
he will undoubtedly be Joined by others whose
love for the Church and faith in its doctrines
cannot be disputed. A grand opportunity to
establish it's authority and influence more
firmly than ever is apparently about to be
thrown away by the Roman Church, and with
the influences for good which it can readily
WELD, this course cannot but cause profound
regret to impartial and right-minded men,
whether Catholics or Protestants.