New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-14
THE GCUMENICAL COUNCIL.

FATHERs-THE QUESTION OF INFALLIBILITY.
ROME Jan. 2l-The order of procedure in the
Rcumenica Vatican Council is so generally mis-
understood or so little understood, that must enter
on my correspondence with you by explaining IT.
Even Episcopal Secretaries have found at times TO
be embarrassed how much more so than the protd-
mum ruguS who stands on the outside waiting for
some wandering ray of light. The Commissions
appointed last year TO prepare matter for the Council
have all died natural death, but they left their
schenata dcreorium ct cdRonUm," projects de lOi the
French would say which have been under discussion
up to the present time and which will occupy the
attention of the Council to its close 1t may, how
ever so happen that some Holy Father may desire
to propose novelty which in his opinion would con-
tribute greatly to the public good To receive such
propositions the Pope has appointed n private
"deputatlon" consisting of ~ Cardinals and Ia
Bishops. Its sole duty is TO deliberate on such
propositions, accept or reject them, finally
submitting its counses to the Pope. Every
novelty, therefore viii be so well sifted
that there is little chance of anything escaping which
might be supposed TO initiate against Mother Church
The real working body is the General Congregation,
which has now held twelve meetings. The schemata
decreorum ct caRoaum are submitted to il in order
those regarding Faith taking the precedence. ANY
Father wishing to speak a schema must present
his demand to one of the five Cardinal Legates
chosen by the Pope his representatives at least
day before the meeting of General Congregation.
ANY other Father who during the debate may feel
desire to speak, do SO by asking permission OF
one of the Presidents
Possible differences of opinion have been anticipated
by the election of four Deputations by the Fathers
Each Deputaton consists of q Bishops, presided
over by a Cardinal appointed by the Pope, and to
of these Deputations, which are called severaily
" of Faith" "of discipline" "of Regular Orders"
and of Oriental Rites" the subject MATTER under
discussion will be referred i'll case OF opposition.
Such case occurred on Monday, 10th January when
the deliberations of the General Congregation with
the objections started were laid before the Depu-
tatiOn of Faith. 1t is the duty of these
Deputations then to examine the objections and send
their report back to the General Congregation which
proceeds 10 formulate a decree OF Canon Of the Coun
Gil, and to vote upon it, As last step tins formu-
lated Decree is TO be laid before Public Session. at
which the Pope will preside The Decree is then
read; the votes are taken again, pro lorna; and on
their being presented 10 His Holiness by his orders
il is promulgated. Such in few words is the mode
of procedure adopted Before feeling that my way
was clear before me- compelled to give you these
dry details, and now am in proper working con-
dition. Ii will be evident to you however that I'M
less any new material is suggested. the members
and 90 to Sleep as may also the members of the four
Deputations chosen by the Bishops to consider mat
tiers of Faith" Discipline Regular Orders" and
"Orienta Rites"-uness objections started in the
General Congregation Should no difficulties occur
that body NAV at once proceed TO formulate Decree
and vote upon it,
/, NAV reasonably he doubted whether opposition
to any great extent was antcipated-the Jesults.
who are the real Promoters of Council arranged al
fairs so ceverlyapOstolic letters were tender and
| paterna and so much was trusted to the
| Influences of the genius loci, that victory along
| the whole line expected. Such anticl-
| nations are now proved to have been false.
Fourteen times has the General Congregation assem-
bed between co and 20 of the Fathers have spoken,
many in oppostiOn and no public session has as vet
| been summoned to promulgate Decree SO lar III
deed from this the discussions on articles OF fath
were sent together with the objections maze 10 the
Deputation of Faith on Monday, the 10TH to be re-
formed. As yet have not heard whether that Dep
utaton has terminated ts deliberations IT has al
ready met twice, and when it has concluded us Ell
forts to smooth away difficulties, the result VIII be
sent to tho General Congregaton.and the votes will
be taken On Friday the 18th inst. another General
CONGREGATION was held in the Council Hail. and &c
cesiastcal Discipline was brought under discussion
Three new schemata docretOram" were presented to
the Fathers L. Regarding the life and conduct OF
Christ 2. Regarding the little Catechism, and d
on the rights and obi cations of the bishops AZ To
the second decree il is desired TO establish as rule
that only one Catechism shall be used throughout
the whole Roman Catholic world, whereas at present
almost every Diocese has it's peculiar CatechisIn
The orators mt ;his meeting were Cardinal Schwartz
enbuTg Archbishop of Prague; Cardinal Matthew
Archbishop of Besaneon; Monsignor Snnor Arch
bishop OF Strigonia and the Bishop OF Grenada
The discussion was on the duties and rights OF
the Episcopal body, and on matters Of discipline
Cardinal Schwartzenburg strongly supported bV