The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-05-15
unauimity for the validity Of doctrinal def

unanimity for the validity of doctrinal def
nitiOns.
We protest energetically against snch an
Interpretation of our thought; and to reject
it we need not invoke tradition, which Is
evidently contrary to the theory you as
cr;be to US; we can dispense with proving
that this theory would tend to nothing else
than to destroy the authority of the Church;
we need only appeal to grammar. Though
am far from pretending to compete with
your Grace in the knowledge of the French
tongue, Ibelieve cau assert that the abso-
lutte indicative IL tamt (must) has not In
that language the sense of the Latin opta-
tive deberet, above all, when this optative
is again softened by all sorts of attenna-.
tions: 81 teri possit. Uidetur, etc. It seems
| to me evident that having to chose between
| the two TRANSACTIONS alluded 70 by your
Grace, IL faut or IL serait desirable, the one
you reject should be preferred as oeing
much more exact.
| Such, in tact was our thought. It seems
| to US eminently desirable aud more neces-
sary than ever in the present circumstances
that, in all the acts of the Council, and
above all, in the most contested OF all, the
| Catholic episcOpate should present itself
| before the wOrid-befOre believers. as be-
fore unbelievers, surrounded with that
splendor and armed with that strength
| which unanimity gives. But from the ne
cessity of this accord we have never
thought of drawing an obligation on the
majority to submit to the law of the mi
nority. We sought rather to remove the
obstacles, relating much less to the spirit
than to the form, which prevented the mi
nority from agreeing with the majority.
We have reasons to believe that our efforts
have not been completely lost our PROJECT,
it is true, was not admitted by the Commits
sion, which rejected likewise all the others
that had been presented to it, and com
posed new one. .But without having
been pushed with the same activity as
certain others, that which we have draft
ed did not little help IN bringing together
, many members of the Council, and pre-
pairing the happy accord the early conclu-
ston of which every thing leads us to hope
We could not obtain, it is true, what we
should have ardently wished, to-wit, that
! searching the past to seek there matter fol
Some rash minds have wantonly provoked
+ these scandals, and have thus rendered use.
! less the moderation we had cOunselied
q But we should not, perhaps, complain o
a this. The discussion of truth has beer
r thereby much more thoroughly sifted, AM
r will present less difficulty. Already tn
f question of opportunity may be considered
. as closed and we have every reason t.
n believe that when the Council can be calle'
!. upon to pronounce on the doctrine, thel
!, sentence shall rest on that moral unanimit
n which we persist in regarding as most de
a sirable.
"a One thing is certain, my Lord it is tina
"A all of us, whether we have signed sundr
N postulatd or have abstained from so doing
ID we have now only to chose between tw
q. courses: either to rally completely on tn
a. side of the Pope or to join the side opposin
,e him. The Catholic episcopacy has lon
a. since made its choice; and the Fathers {
h. the Vatican, by erecting in an article {
n. faith the obligation to never separate frol
Nv the successor of st. Peter will only wal
N in the footsteps of their predecessor
~, ~ With the grace Of God, shall never dev
ate from the glorious traces which OF
,, Young American Church has hitherto to
nm lowed with mistaken fidelity; and it is
:" order that no doubt should remain in til
he connection concerning my resolution, En-
NJ L think proper to repel publicly the 81
- impression which might result from yo
,ra letter.
!; 1 had thought that could wait for Il
-. conciliary discussion to make this prote
IN But upon seeing the increasing muitlphcl
-" of publications the most likely to trout
&C. the faith of Christians, have reflected tn
ny the first pastors were obliged to prepa
roy their flock to receive with cordial subm
~. sion the decisions of the Council. Won
Wy ' consider it the greatest misfortune OF I
nu' life to have contributed in any manner
en- estrange u single one of my brethren FRI
q perfect obedience to the authority o.
sm, Church. IE associating myself, mt
.ne against my will, in this struggle against
~ ~ definition which is hencefOrth inevitah
tue ,le your Grace thrusts upon me part OF t
n "s fearful responsibility, which will not ma
= nes at any price and thereby places me un'
80 = ~ the necessity of making public the sine
4'Ia. expression of my thought.
aae q But, whilst fulfilling this conscientl'
og' duty, 1 remain, nevertheless, my Lord,
res res your Grace, the respectful and devo
uch servant. MARTIN JOHN SPALDING.
'ays Archbishop of Baltimore
III ROME, April 4, 1870, Feast of st. lsidt
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