The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-19
rHE oPpoNENTs oE INFALIIBHITY.

THE OPPONENTS OF AVAILABILITY.
But, overwhelming as were the majority Of
the bishops who favored the infallibility doc
trine, and emphatic as was the support given
to them by the Pope, many were surprised al
the large number of bishops who openly de-
made known their opinion before the meeting
OF the Council,-foremost among them the We
teran champion Of church interests in France
Bishop Dupanloup OF Orleans. Most declared
themselves for the first time after their arrival
in Rome. The most compact opposition came
from the Germans, Austrians and Hnnga-
rians, who united for a petition against
Council. It created particular surprise that
the three German Cardinals, Archbishop Raus-
cher Of Vienna, Archbishop Prince Schwarzen-
berg of Prague, and Prince Hohenlohe OF
Rome, did not hesitate to join the opposition
as well as all the archblshops. The bishops OF
Hungary were said to be unit against infalli-
bllity, the only one doubtful being the Prmate
France also furnished considerable contingent
to the remonstrances against the doctrine.
On the other hand, Italy, Spain, South Ameri-
ca and the Missions&ppeared almost as unit
in favor of infallbility.
Among the opponents two parties were
clearly Observation-Disclosures who personally are
believers In the doctrine and merely doubt the
opportuneness, and those who are opposed to
the doctrine ITSELF OF the latter class, Bishop Du-
panloup was best known before the meeting of
the Council; but after the opening, his fame
was eclipsed by that Of Bishop Strossmayer,
representative OF the Slavic population In
Hungary, and, If the almost unanimous reports
from Rome may be believed, one of the great
est orators Of the Cosncil. Bishop Hefele, the
learned Bishop Of Rottenbulrrg and famous his
torian OF the former Councils, also proved an
influential though avery cautious member Of
this party. Nearly all the bishops of this party
have, however, brought forward only such
arguments as impugn the opportuneness Of
establishing the new doctrine Only one bish-
op, Maret Of France, had before the meeting OF
the Council issued an elaborate work, specl-
ally intended to show the proposed doctrines
as deviation from the true constitution Of
The church, and to warn the church against its
adoption.
THE MIDDLE PARTY AND THE PROPOSED coMPRo-
MISE.
The unexpected strength developed by the
opposition induced number of prelates
sympathizing with the majority to attempt
compromise, and to seek to establish the
doctrine in the way least offensive to the MI
nority. The chief spokesman of this party has
been Archbishop Spalding, Of Baltimore, who
proposed TO introduce the new doctrine less
by It's clear and emphatic declarations as q
doctrine OIL TIE CaLlOllc Cnurcn Cnan Dy an en-
forcement of what has been for centuries the
universal practice in the church-the duty OF
every Catholic to accept the decisions Of the
Supreme Pontif, not only with unconditional
obedience. but with unreseryed mental assent.
THE SECULAR GOVERNMENTS.
We do not enter into detailed account OF
the movements Of the three parties. The
newspaper reports on this subject are gene
rally untrustworthy, and lack confirmation.
But 1t cannot be doubted that the large ma
jority Of the bishops are now as fully deter
mined as ever to promnlgate the doctrine.
We do not believe that the efforts of secular
governments will induce any. considerable
number Of them to change their minds But
the bishops, in view Of the continuing opposi-
tlon, will naturally be anxious to find for the
wording Of the new doctrine the least objec-
tionable expression.
AS regards, finally, the consequences which
the PRONUNCIATION of Papal Infallibility as doc
trine of the church will have. we think 1t almost
certain that all the bishops the church, with at
most one or two exceptions, will declare their
unequivocal submission to the decision OF the
Council. The infallibility OF an Gcumencal
Council has always been so fundamental doc
trine Of the Catholic Church, that no bishop
will be easily induced to protest against 1t.