New-York tribune., 1870-02-01

ROME, Jan. li.--Snce the second Public Session ot
the Council the scanty doiDgs Of which described
in my last letter. nothing Of importance has trans
pred with regard to the action Of tie Fathers, and
even the curiosity which was kept alive by vague
contradictory rumors has to great degree subsidized
The meetings of the General Congregations are still
held from day to day in the Council Hail. no essen
tia change in the arrangements has taken place and
it seems to be understood that there is neither oppor
tunty nor desire. ON the part of the majority for
free discussion in the Council. According TO the
best advces that can obtain, and they are meager
and unsatisfactory enough the DEGREES against tLe
raonalistc spirit of the age and the material ten
denotes of modern science will be adopted without
division, while the definition of Papal lnfalbility
will be so clothed In artful DISCUSSES, to make it
more palatable to its opponents, without duing the
vital element of the supremacy of Rome. Still 1t
will be bitter pill 1t will not be swallowed by the
minority. except under protest, and with many wry
faces. They make no secret of their objections as
the subject does not yet form part of the private
business Of the Council. The argument Of the lib.
era Catholics against the dogma is chiefly placed on
historical grounds. It, certainly has great force and
to the minds of Protestants in general must appear
conclusive. A brief summary of its positions may
be of interest to your readers to whom the Of
reasoning is not already familiar Ibaye gathered it
from various authentic documents, and from CONVEX
satons with intelligent Of the liberal Catholic
party; and although its statements must necessarily
be dry trust they will be found worthy Of reliance.
The doctrine of the Infallibility Of the Pope il is
maintained, was entirely unknown to the Church
| during long succession of ages. Not voice 10 liz
favor heard in the Oriental Church. to which
Christianity mainly indebted for the overthrow Of
the ancient hereses and the creation of ecclesiastical
literature. Nor can any testimony in its behalf be
| a.. ~
| twelve centuries of the Christian era. Among tho
quotations from the Latin Fathers that have been
brought forward in support of the opinion by such
writer's as the Jesuits Perrone Schrader and Others,
there is not one which ascrbes this prerogative 20
the Pop with the least degree of cearness and pre-
csion. On the contrary, the passages from the
Fathers are far more numerous, which. either ex-
pressly, or by implication, deny the attribute Of In
fallibility to the Pope, and ascrbe to the whole
Church the right Of ultimate decision on articles Of
faith. The ancient heretics, moreover called
in question the authority of the Popes, which they
would most assuredly have done, had the dogma OF
Infallbility been received by the Church. Nor do
we find any traces of this opinion in the writings ot
the Western Fathers who treat OF tie Standard OF
faith and the authority OF the Church. Tcvtullan,
St. Cyprian ST. Augustine, for Instance, never appeal
to the decisions Of Popes. They knew OF 10 sUch
simple and convenient method o. sctiag di5pu. ID
point of doctrine as referring to t.r aUthoIy Of the
Roman See. These Fathers ncrcr fail 10 appeal to
the traditions of the Church, with the sanctions Of
Apostolic antiquity aud Catholic universally and
| unanimity.
The doctrine of Papal Infallibiity has thus been of
slow growth in the Western Church. Ii spraDg ~
as the consequence of numerous errors and iabri,d-
tions Only toward the ED of the thirteenth ecu
tury was it introduced into the scholastic theology
by Thomas Aquinas. He had been led into by
fictitious representations Of recent origin.
As, uming the truth of this doctrine, the hS;o Of
the Catholic Church for the first ten ccntnrcs oe-
comes perfect riddle. The perpetual cOntrove rs
| in regard to dOgmatic points cannot ba eNr.7.ti.
The disputants OF either side were az Infinite .ss
| to determine questions which papal decision c5lld
have settled at once. Nothing necessary bat to
appeal to the Pope and the dssidents from his udg
ment would have instantly been communicated.
But nothing of this kind ever took place. For every
doctrinal dispute the bishops were summoned from
| every part of the Christian world They were
| obliged to undergo immense priyations and sacri-
fees for the decision Of qnesDons which according
to the theory of Papal Infalbility cour be- uncon-
ditionay settled by the Pope. Bat this is not all.
In some cases, the Pop,s themselves, rs Leo the
Great for instance, have demanded the con, ocaton
| of an Geumenical COunc or, like Sricics have re-
ferred to a Synod such questions Of doctrine they
were unwilling TO decide.
| 1t has been said that the calling OF Geumencal
Councils is to be ascrbed to the Roman Emperors.
But the emperors acted in this matter only upon the
advice Of the bishops and often of the Popes them
selves Not word of reproach has ever been uttered
against them for allowing the right of decision to
Councils, which justly belonged to the Popes. The
Christian world on the contrary, has regarded the
dacision of IN th As the only
| method in accordance with the principles of the
| Church.
| Nor can the dogma of Papal InfallIbilty be con-
sidered as the logical development Of any principle
accepted by the Church. IL is anything but the Just
consequence of ancient ecclesiastical doctrine.
On the contrary it is the very opposite OF the ancient
doctrine the assertion of doctrine essentially new.
| and which cannot be reconciled with the ancient
theory, whose place il has usurped. Tho ancient
doctrine taught that the integral Church was iniail-
ble because she was intrusted with the revelations
of God II was to the Church in her toality, 10 her
representation by Council that the promise OF In
fabty was made. that is, the promise oi DIVINE
light and protection without which the purposes Of
Jesus Christ could not be accomplished The modern
opinion. on the other hand maintains that it is not
to the Church. that the promise Of lnfalllbility has
been made but to a single person, to the Pope ex-
clusively. without whom the Church would be aban-
doned to error; that the Pope alone receives divine
light as often as he doctrine OF fafh TO
the Church, light which guarantees him against
error: and hence it is only through him that the
Church receives the allowance of light and truth
which he deems ft TO impart.
The first decision in matters of faith was by the
first Council of Jerusalem. The Apostles discussed
the question in the presence Of the faithful; but the
result was declared not in conformity with the vote
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