The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-05-05

When the Pres6yterian cites Italy, Spain
and Austria MS having declared against
Papal Infal1ibflity or treated it as q dis
puted question, we repeat that it cannot
| be in good faith.
article is,as our readers will see by glancing
at it, devoted to scolding Bishop Elder and
the Catholic hierarchy generally, and NOR
alizing upon their depraved tendency to
deceive folks. Now this is all wasted am
munition. 1t is based upon funny mis-
take of the Presbyterian. That paper sup
poses US to have said that Bishop Elders
opinion concerning a certain interest mani
tested by the Pope was not ere athedra, and
consequently not to be relied on. Now
what we said was nothing of the sort. 1t
was, that the interest manifested by the
Pope and referred to by Bishop Elder was
not definition er-cathedrG any more than
was the wrongful interest manifested by
st. Peter on one occasion and which was
evidently not based on his infallibility.
From which it was evident that Bishop
ting infallibility to the Papal sympathies of
which he wrote as being q Sufficient (not
infallible) evidence that Divine Wisdom
SEES" etc. AS to our saying or meaning that
Bishop Elders opinion was not a definition
cr-cathedra, or seriously connecting his
name with the power of making such de-
fintion, the supposition was pure blunder
This being treated, however, as a mis-
apprehension, the plainest breakdown of
the whole article is its reference
linger. We quoted telling paragraph
from that author, which our adversary, by
implication, rather treats as spurious,
without having the grace to say plainly
whether it is or not. 1t accuses US of
being ignorant of his opinions, yet we
gave them in black and white. Does our
neighbor doubt them to be his 2 If so, why
not verify our extract by examining the
work from which we Qnoted with the paging
given? Mr.. Dollinser may find it conve-
nient to change his views now, but then
we rust recollect that his is not the first
instance of the fall of great luminary
from its celestial heights. Tertullian, the
great apolosist of Christianity, died n
reprobate. Even Solomon, author as he
was of inspired writings, fell into idolatry.
But let us go onward in the controversy.
We have proved that the Pope is infallible,
1st, from tho Bible, and, I'd, from the Fa-
theirs. We now proceed to the last and
most important proof.
The Church has pronounced him infal-
lible.
Tho CIvro j, J., I,G-
solemn council, and the Church cannot
err. But you say how do We know the
Church cannot err.
LIST. Because for eighteen centuries she
has constantly taught men, constantly
defined doctrines whenever doubts about
them might require solution, and has never
taught anything inconsistent with what
she once taught. All the sects are con-
stantly dividing and splitting and chang
ing, denying now what they held before,
and acknowledging the blunders they can
no longer excuse.
I'd. Because the Church has never erred
during those eighteen centuries. If she
ever I introduced novelty, put your
finger on it and on its birth day. History
to Professionalism. Every heresy and every
schism that ever took form and shape you
will find clearly described in history, the
precise day and moment given when it was
born, and it's precise paternity pointed out. |
A watchful shepherd stood upon tie tower
and notified the historian to make |
minute of it all. But nowhere do you find
a record that the Church ever adopted one
of these vagaries. You may say in general
terms that the Church gradually lapsed
into gross errors through long course of
centuries. but give the day and date for those
errors. Indeed, if the Catholic Church
erred during those long centuries when
there was no other Church, then the gates
Of hell had prevailed and Christianity was
destroyed.
Sd. Because the Church is older than
the Bible, and is, therefore, not based on
,he Bible. 1t existed before the Bible,
hat is, the new testament. 1t would have
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