Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-29
A Protest for Freedom of Conscience

Protest for Freedom of Conscience.
The protest Of DIR. Dollinger of Bavaria
against papal infallibility has excited great in-
terest ia Europe among both Catholics and
Protestants. Dl. Dollinger is one of the most
learned, acute and independent theologians of
the ROmish church. In common with other
men OF eminence for learning or ecclesiastical
position, he received an order to give in his adj
hesion to the doctrine declared by the late eoun-
Gil Within certain number of days. Near the
END OF last month he wrote to the archbishop of
Munich manly and vigorous letter. protesting
mat be cannot obey this order, and asking to be
heard before council, when, if he cannot show
good reasons for his opposition, he promises 20
YIELD A summary of his argumenti is contained
IN thls letter. 1t is both learned and logical
ana expressed in ioreible and earnest language
yet wholly free from arrogance or epotism
This letter alone is enough to prove him a man
of remarkable ability, and Of a generous and
candid spirit. 1t concludes with these words.
"Ths system bears its Romish orioin m, -.
forehead, and will never be able TO penetrate in
Germanic countries. AS Christian, as a theo
logan, as historian, as a citizen, cannot ac
cept this doctrine. Not as a Christian, for it i
irrecoDciiable with the spirit of the gospel ant
Will tue pldi1 WO1uS Vi OLTlSt ana Oh the aDOs
ties; it purposes just that establishment of thu
kingdom Of this world which Christ rejected i
claims that rule over all communions which
Peter forbids TO all and to himself. Not as {
theologian, fol- the whole tradition of the churcf
Is in irreconciiable opposition to it, Not as q
historian can ! accept it,; for as such know
tnat the persistent endeavor to realize this theo
ry OF kingdom of the world has cost Europe
rivers Of blood, has COMPOUNDED and degraded
whole countries, has shaken the beautiful Or
game architecture of the elder church, and has
Degotten, fed and sustained the worst abuses in
the church. '''
Finally, as a citizen, must nut it away from
me, because by the claims on the submission of
states and monarchs and by the whole noiiticoi
ORDER under the papal power, and by the excen.
tlolltl Posiuo1 Wnlch It claims for the clergy II
lays the foundation Of endless ruinous disI1,,t -
between state and church, between CLERGY ana
laity. For cannot conceal from myseif H.,
this doctrine, the results of which were the rnir
of the old German kingdom, would, if govern
ing the Catholic part of the German nation q,
once lay the seed of ineurable decay in the new
kingdom which has just been built up"
The letter provoked reply from the arch
bishop, who makes short work with the doctor
arguments. The prelate says in substance tina
there is no longer any place for reasoning il
this matter; the church has spoken; it is for he
children TO obey-not to question. When tn
author demands to be heard before an assem-
oy OF bishops and theologians, and to be al
lowed 70 prove that the DEGREES of the ecumeni
cal council were neither contained in the bol,
scriptures nor in The writings of the fathers, h,
nSs oFe'iooked the fact that there is no question
YET 70 DC decided, and therefore to be CAREFUL,
examined;
anl lae question Question has already been decided.
assembled and directed by the so,un ~ ",
church, has, after careful examina,ion ~ ~
planned formulated and defined This article Q