The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-04-17
The Controversy of tho Day.

For many weeks, if not months, the English
Catholic papers have teemed with criticisms
and discussions on the question of Infallibility.
The Weekly Register, in bringing these to a
close, says:
Our readers will see that on the one side, as
| on the other, excellent good and pious men
have hitherto held different opinions upon the
subject. That all this will be allowed to work
for the good of the Church we have not the
slightest doubt. After the Council has spoken
out, our Protestant friends will see-althOugh
! we don't believe they will fully realize the fact
obedience to what a General Council declares,
but that her children willingly render her that
obedience which she claims 1t will show our
Ritualistic friends that the teaching Church"
is with us not merely vague theory, but an
actual fact. In any other so-called Church. a
controversy half violent as the one we have
just passed through would, for moral GER
tainty, have caused schism with US it will
| create nothing of the kind. Here and there
some half-converted convert may return to the
broader and easier paths of Anglicansm, in
preach and teach exactly what he likes and
approves of. But we venture to prophecy that
amongst Catholics there will not be the falling
away of single congregation, nor will there
be bishop n priest throughout the Church
that will revolt at what the Council decides,
even if he waspreviously opposed to the dog
ma. Not long ago Protestant gentleman
asked u Catholic priest, who IS very much OPP
posed to the dogma of Infallibilty, what he
would do if the dogma was proclaimed The
reply was, GO shall believe that God the Holy
Ghost is with the Church, and that what the
Council proclaims is the truth as inspired by
Him." And that is the spirit which will be-
which, indeed, is-universal throughout the
Church. Protestants cannot understand the
feeling. With them-from DR.. Pussy to DR..
Spurgeon--private opinion is virtually the one
only rule Of faith. They don't know what
obedience to the voice of the Church means !;
and, indeed, how should they do SO, when in
every sect and section of the church there are
SO many and such conflicting opinions, even
| upon vital matters of faith And amongst
in any other Protestant denomination; for.
with them, even their bishops are only believed
in as opponents of the truth by those who
agree with their particular views. To such
cowardice, and giving in to the DEGREES of
| General Council seems like deserving the cause
for which they have fought. The basis of our
faith is that know and we feel that the
Church must be right, and that to obey her is
our first duty as Catholics. With Anglicans
the foundation of their belief is that they
ciplne as they individually approve of. Our
infaliibifity is that of the Pope, the Pope in
Council; theirs is that of their favorite
preacher, or of the clergyman who best per-
Of their church. We care, comparatively
speaking, nothing for the individual priest
but believe without the shadow of a doubt, in
! his office. They little for the office of
their clergyman-nething if he is not of their
own way Of thinking-bnt put every faith in
his personal qualifications. Therefore it is
! that they do not, and, indeed, cannot, realize
what obedience to the Church means ; and, for
this reason, the fact of SO many Catholics who
were of a contrary opinion bowling to the do
cisions of the Council must have considerable
| effect for good, and will, no doubt, cause many
persons not yet in the Church to wonder at
what they see, be more earnest in their in
! qniries and finally to enter within the ark.
| And, for this reason, we believe that the con-
| GrnvePsy hrOup lt to end will do GOOD
not 80 much within as without the Church.
| The unhesitating obedience which all Catho-
| lies render unto the voice of the Church has
| never been brought before the non-Catholic
| world so forcibly as it will now be and to this
end the controversy of the day has contributed
| not little; therefore, we believe, even the
| vehemeuce with which it has been carried on
will in the end do good.