The New York herald., 1870-03-25
French Opinion Of the Effects of tho PaPal
DEGREES.

Go,i0noni's Messenger OF Paris or the 12eh inst,
speaking OF the Roman Council question says
The last intelligence from Rome leaves no doubt
or the Popes intention III q hOrt time to proclaim
himself lnIalplc. Up to the present day that pre-
rogatlve or qualify had not been admitted 10 Em,
either by the faithful or the clergy, the Fathers
Of the Church or the Councils and even very strong
reasons seemed TO exist Tor thinKi1x tnAt certain
OF his predecessors had been deprived OF tat
supernuman grace For 1880 years the Church
has existed without any one supposing that 8
head on earth was exempt rom error; and
iL IS only now, In the nineteenth century, that
necessity has suddenly arisen, at least In Ine Holy
Fathers mind, Tor making such declaration 10 the
world Without dwelling on the saock given 10
received ideas by an affirmation like that, We con-
that sufficient stress mas not been iald on tho
political gravity or the Popos present pretension
Although The doctrine OF inaillbilty is supposed 10
refer 20 religious matters exclusively, the Holy see ID
adrot In mixing up together spiritual ana tcil-
pora matters thaG difficulty must often arse IN
the task OF drawing the line which separates tho
two aud hence, II the Holy Father believes hilnse'f
lniable in one cate2ory or facts, ne Wi naturally
hesitate TO think tlat he Is not SO III others which
aiJoln them.
Dangers 70 the Governments aud Society.
The Paris OF the 1lth OF March treats
the subject in a very serious light, thus:-
Let this order OF ideas be extended to the consti-
tutions or States anu to the codes whicn regulate
Them, ana any one VIII see ut once wnat lay DC the
ultimate consequences OF infaslollity. IL attacks
the Concordats In sner essential basis as Deng az.
rangemcnts between the spiritual aud temporal
power, and constituting treaties between the Pope
and dliferenr governments on the day when ms HOi.
ness shall have the right 10 speak IN tue name OF his
lnfallibty where vii! be the sanction OF these con-
ventiOnss They will no longer possess even the
guarantee OF a plghted word for . sudden revea.
ton rom the Holy Splllt may cause the annihaton
to-day or what was agreed 10 yesterday. ana Plus
X. will dispense, II he pieases with executing the
engagements OF Plus VII. Can he not also 90 the
Win those Of Plus IX.f Here aiises the cues
ton OF retrospective action Does the inlalibbty
when win 0e soon decreed apply to the predeces
s0rs or the present Pope as well as TO his
successorsi the fact Is certain that II the
| present occupant OF the Holy see Is infal
| bic Plus VII. must have been so likewise. ii
he was the Concordat IS irrevOcab,e Tor the argu
ment Is hardy admissible that Goa Himself having
spoken under the former POntin, can contradict
Himself under the existing one. Ia 1855 the Pope
before his personal nialllblisy was decreed signed
| concordat with Austria. VIII the new dogma give
him the right to abolish that agreement II, uniOr
tuately, the doctrine about TO be proclaimed only
takes eject IN the present and the futue al that
the Popes have accepted and signed even accom-
pshed in civil as well as IN religious matters. VIII
be struck with nuility. Those ale the dangers with
which governments AMI society ara nenacad oy the
new principle.