The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-19
INFALLIBILIIY.
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS At ROME.

THE STATE OF 4IrFIIRS At ROME
Parties in the Church-Prospects of the
New Dogmu-Who are its Adversariei
The Probable Result
The question of Papal Infallibility, which is
at present under discussion in the Vatican
Council, has secured the attention of the civil
ized world to an almost unparalleled degree.
Not only do many million copies Of daily news.
papers carry intelligence concerning it to
every town and village ofthe civilized nations,
but hundreds of thousands of leading articles
and many thousands OF pamphlets and books
have discussed the question in all its aspects.
1t was to be expected that vast number offalse
rumors and misrepresentation concerning such
aquestion would find their way into the press. 1t
could not be otherwise with any question that
is the subject Of so violent a controversy, ana
the discussion of which is partly to be shrouded
in an official secrecy Whoever has any ac-
quaintance with the history and present condi-
ton of the Catholic Church will easily recog-
nze thousands of reports-ncluding quite a
number of our daily cable dispatches which
are circulated concerning the Infallibility
question as absurd and impossible. Many
other reports: not so palpably false, and pur-
porting to come from the most trustworthy
authorities, have been declared by members Of
the Council to be base inventions. Many 9th
ers, again, asserted by some and denied by
Others test the ingenuity of thoseswho are
anxious to discern the false from the true. In the
face of so much that is obviously false OF very
doubtful, it is not an easy task to evolve the
real and incontestible facts of the case.
PARTIES n THE CHURCH.
The difficulty is considerably less with re-
gard to the state Of public opinion in the Ro-
mon Catholic world at large, than with regard
to the position and prospects OF the question
within the Council. One OF the best literary
papers of Catholic Germany, which defends the
truth of Papal Infalllbility, but doubts the op,-
which is distinguished no less for the modera-
tion of its language than for Its learning, says
that at the present time there are within the
church seven parties as concerns the question
of Iufallibility. First. Those who regard the
belief In Papal 1nfalibility as necessity, treat
the contrary view as heretical, demand dog
matical PRONUNCIATION, and seek to pro-
mote the latter by all Just and many
unjust means. Many VIII writer's OF -,I;1e ine
for the chief organ OF the Ultramontane
party, the Civilta Cattolica of Rome, are
counted with this class. Second. Those who
desire the PRONUNCIATION of the doctrine, but
who respect all who oppose 1t up to the time
of the dogmatital definition as good Catho-
lies. The bishops who have signed the poStas-
latum for the doctrine belong partly to this,
who personally accept the truth of the doc
trine, but deny or doubt the opportuneness OF
declaring it as an article Of faith. 1t is claim
ed that the majority of the bishops who belong
to the opposition Of the Council. especially the
German, Austrian and French bishops, share
this view. The fourth class, which comprises
the immense majority Of the Catholic people,
have formed no personal opinion either
for or against the doctrine, but confidently
leave everything to the infalliblc guidance Of
the Holy Spirit, who, they believe, will guard
the Council from falling into any doctrinal
error. The fifth class have thus far been un-
able TO convince themselves the truth OF the
Infallibility doctrine, but they are ready to ac-
cept submissiyely ana cheerinlly any decision
of the Council whatever it may be: The sixth
comprises those opponents Of Infallioility who
regard their view as SO irrefutable that they
would be tempted to doubt the Gcumenlcal
character of q council which should promul-
gate such doctrine and to repudiate It's deci-
sions. Dollinger, it Is thought must be put IN
this class, and with him many Of the promi-
nent scholars who have signed congratulatory
and sympathetic addre ses to him. Lastly,
seventh class goes 80 far In opposing the in
fallbllity Of the Pope, that indirectly it throws
overheard with 1t the infallibiity Of the church
itself. The famous work of Janus on the
Pope and the Council is considered represen-
tative work Of this shade of opinion
This classification, made by careful and
thoughtful observer, well portrays the eondi-
ton of the Catholic Church. 30 far as its
scholars, priests, and small number of emil
nent layrnen are concerned. To complete the
picture IL should, however, be added that both
In the New and Old World many millions are
only nominally connected with the church,
and are altogether Indifferent to the proceed
ings of the Council. A look at the Parpaments
of countries like Italy, Spain, Austria, France,
Belgium, and many others, which by name are
wholly Catholic, while they choose deliberately
OF the people who are sworn
enemies OF the church, can leave no doubt as
TO this point. 1t should also be added that a
very large number OF those prominent laymen
who have been in the European Parlaments OF
the highest positions OF State or of society, the
leading champions Of the interests Of the
church, have publicly come out as earnest op-
ponents of Infallibility. AS regards theologi-
cal scholars and prominent members Of the
priesthood, it suffices to mention such names
as Gratry and Father Hyacinthe, In France;
John H. Newman, in England; Dollinger, and
of those more than one-half Of all the theologl-
cal professors OF Catholic Germany, to furnish
a conclusive proof that the opposition to The
proposed doctrine has developed much great
er force than was commonly anticipated. The
great phaanx in defence and promotion OF the
doctrine has been the order of the Jesuits.
Though comparatively small In me number OF
its members, this order has from the beginning
taken the front rank in the defence OF the
doctrine, and has published more works 10 its
favor than all the other religious orders taken
together. 1t Is natural enough, therefore, that
the Jesuits should be charged by the oppo-
nents of infallibillty with being the prime
movers Of this whole scheme and responsible
for all the calamity which many Liberal Cath
olcs expect will befall the church in case the
scheme is carried. But though less active, the
immense majority of the religious orders
sympathize in this question with the Jesuits.
Men like Father Hyacinthe are rare eXcep-
tions, and the generals Of several orders, or,
for instance, recently the general Of the Laza-
rists, have been able to assure the Pope that
the members OF the order are unit in favor
of inalliblity.
THE PARTY OF INFAI.ILBllIsTs IN THE COUNCIL.
Long before the Council met it was the gen.
era! opinion that a majority OF the bishops
were not only personally favorable to the new
doctrine, but would favor its promulgation. A
large portion of the Roman Catholic bishops
ot the nresent day WERE before the elevation