The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-17

The Council, the Pope nnd Father Hyacin.he.
In connection with the approaching Council
we have at last got hold of fact. If not
fact, it is as near fact as such things
generally are. The Cigilta Cattosica is adj
mittedly the organ Of his Holiness Pope Plus
the Ninth. The CSgiSto is conducted by and in
the interest Of the Jesuits But as the Jcsuits
now manage the Pope what the Ciyilta says
is authoritative. 1t is so accepted all over
Europe and in every part of the world where
facts are appreciated. In Germany, where
the Council has provoked extensive discussion,
the Ctci2ta has on all hands been regarded as
the organ Of the governing party at Rome.
The worst fears entertained respecting the
probable doings of the Council have been en-
couraged by the CigSlta In its protracted con-
troversy with the 1Hgemejnc Zeitung it spoke
with an authority which was unmistakable.
1t now justfes Father Hyacinthe in the bold
and Luther-like course he has taken, by
Informing us that the Council has been ''sum-
moned not to deliberate on and decide ques-
tons by the vote of the majority, but to ra.ify
decisions already resolved upon by the sove-
reign and infallible Pontiff." This Is plain
speaking. II is the very thing we wanted
The letter of DR.. Cumming, of London, brought
out some important facts. 1t was stated in
the Popes reply that ''Protestants aud other
non-Catholics' were not admissible to the Coun-
Gil until they FIRST repented and humbly sued
for admission to Mother Church. It was also
stated that matters which had been settled
ing Professionals and other nom Catholics this
was Ineligible enough; but it still left MS the
liberty to indulge the hope that when the
Catholic bishops themselves met in council
opinion would be freely expressed and the vote
would be honestly taken-n other words, that
the Holy Father would preside and the
majority would rule. This latest voice from
Rome, this last utterance of the Cs0ista, dis
pels even this pleasant illusion. The Council
is 10 be dumb show, nothing more.
Let US grasp His wondrous thought of the
CicQta. Let us see Il we unqeTT-!and it. II
has been favorite doctrine of the Churtcii,. in
! all ages, and, indeed, Of all sections Of the
| Church, that the Church in council, or synod.
or general assembly, or convocation, was
under the guidance Of the Holy Spirit, and
| that its judgment was infallible. This is intel
| ligible. Not to speak of divine guidance at
| oil, it is difficult to conceive of any higher
wisdom than that which is arrived at by a
| large body Of men, acting with full know
| ledge and just appreciation of their represen-
tatiye responsibility. This is a general truth
The only trouble in the matter is that when
men are gathered together in large numbers
and in representative capacity we seldom
find that responsibility is felt by them to be
| SO important as personal and factional interest
| The iniallibility Of ecclesiastical councils is
more name than reality. 'For as much az
they be composed of men, they may err and
sometimes have erred in things pertaining unto
God" Sill, as two heads may be wiser than
| one, 1t can scarcely be called on offensive
fiction to say that general or ecumenical
councils are infallible. Nobody believed 1t,
but no one cared to dispute It. If it was not
absolutely true it was not absolutely false,
But there is limit to human credulity. The
burden OF belief may become too heavy.
When we are told that the bishops are not to
deliberate, not to decide by the vote of the
majority, but to ratify what has already been
resolved upon by the sovereign and infalIibIe
. Pontif, even those Of us who were good
Catholics enough to swallow the dogma Of the
Immaculate Conception begin to feel as il this
new thing were little too big for the afore-