The New York herald., 1870-06-13
Father Presto. ON P.pai rnfailiblnty.

rather Preston ON foRai IntoshDh"Ss
From the numerous sermons delivered yes
terday, of which we give respectively briefre-
port this morning, that of the Rev. Father Pres
ton, Of st. AIMS Roman Catholic church, is, we
think, entitled to our special consideration.
First, we think 80 because the question OF
Papal infalliblity now under discussion before
the great Church Council at Rome is agitating
the whole Christian world, Church and State,
and especially the leading Christian States Of
Europe, Catholic and Protestant. Secondly,
because number Of American bishops in the
Roman Council are opposed to the proclama-
ton of Papal infallibility as dogma. Thirdly,
because very considerable portion OF the
enlightened and liberal Catholics Of the United
States are believed to be opposed to the
proclamation of the dogma; and lastly, be-
cause the learned and eloquent Father Preston,
a native American, and formerly minister OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church, may be con-
sidered as faithfully rejecting the general
sentiment of American Catholics and Catholics
in America in reference to the spiritual
authority Of the visible head Of the Church.
And what says Father Preston? He con-
tends that Mother Church is of necessity the
teacher of the mysteries of the Christian faith,
looking to harmony and unity among It's
followers that the Bible is full of mysteries
which otherwise interpreted result in heresies,
scepticism, divisions and confusion; that the
great Council of the Vatican across the water
will, therefore, be right in pronouncing the
Pope as the head of the Church infallible-that
is, that his DEGREES in religious matters are
and are to be authoritative and final. And
why not, for if his teachings are false where is
the stability of the Church? Father Preston
says, too, that he has for long time been ex-
pecting this decision, and that he will rejoice
in the consummation Of the great truth which
he doubts not will soon be promulgated.
The American Catholic view, then, of Papal
ntallibility is strictly spiritual and has nothing
to do with temporal affairs. Among the rulers
of the great Powers of the European Continent,
however, the apprehension is entertained
that the Pope clothed with this dogma of
infallibility may possibly assume to teach
tHoN OutuOiCc VI ciduCC, AIuooid, AuouAo
or Italy, for instance, at some poll
tical crisis, their political duties as
Catholics, and that very serious con.
sequences may follow from the conflict of
authority thus likely to be raised between
Church and State. We, however, apprehend
no such dangers from this alarming dogma in
Europe, and certainly we have no fears of any
political difficulty from it in this country Of
free thought free speech, free schools and
universal federation. Father Preston gives us
that which will be at least the American
Catholic Interpretation Of Papal infallibility in
confning it absolutely to matters of religious
faith and instruction. Nor do we suppose
that the Holy Father, under this dogma, has
the remotest idea of reviving those bloody
European conflicts of times long past between
Church and State, or those terrible struggles
between Catholic States and Protestant
States which eliminated in the thirty years
war in Germany. Such things, in this age of
general progress and enlightenment, cannot
be revived. Let the Holy Father, then, have
his dogma; yea, let him have all the dogmas
he may ask. He is, indeed, good man, and
we may trust him and his successors too.
The great controlling, progressive and liberal
izing Christian spirit of the age will still hold
the balance of power, even at Rome.