The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-05-12
From the Southwestern Prcsbyterian.J
MFALLBTLTTY, g0-CALLED.

From the Southwestern Prosbyterian.l
MFALLBrLrrY, g0-cALLED.
Our Romish neighbors complain that our
articles lack ability! What would they
havea They ask as to consider that Rev.
Mastai Ferretti, the author of the Syllabus,
and the present occupant of the Papal chair,
is endued with divine wisdom and author
ity, such as even the Apostles did not
dream of claiming. We must then explain
to them, that If a man would seriously
argue that proposition, 1t is necessary to
lay aside what moderate ability he may
have, in order to reduce his intellect to the
level Of the discussion.
What use is to be made of ability, in
arguing with men who, in successive num-
bers of their paper, ask enlightenment as
to Baden-with it's Chamber of Deputies
elected by a population where the Roman
lists are twice as numerous as Protestants-
whether it has Romish Government
AS we have said, the aim and scope of
Papal pretensions ought to be understood
in Romish countries; and it is a most sig
niGcant fact when those Governments re-
ject them, and stigmatize them as an invasion
of the liberties of conscience and the rights
ofStates. France and the NorthG German Con-
federation remonsrated against the adoption
of the dogma of infallibility. Year Book, p.
66l. And so far as Italy is concerned, the
Pope himself declares that he is deprived
of freedom to govern the Romish church or
maintain it's rights. Year Book, p. 4i3, 1t
was announced in 1870 that Baden did not
recognize its validity. Bavaria, which,
like Baden, is member of the German
Empire, with III percent of Romish popu-
iation, forbade it's official promnlgation by
Austria announced that, in consequence of
that dogma, the Concordat was revoked
p. Sc.
1t can hardly be discourteous in Us to
charge the persistent denial of these facts
to want Of Information; for otherwise we
deliberately misstate the most well-known
facts.
They say they have proved from Scrip.
ture that Peter was infallible. 1t is true
they do not chow that Christ, or the Apos-
! ties, or any church said Thou Peter art
! infallible," or even acted as if they thought
so. They merely present three texts. Be-
cause Christ said "On this rock I will
build my church; Feed my sheep-lambs
have prayed for thee-that thy faith fail
not1when tbRu art converted confirm thy
brethren therefore, they say, Peter was
infallible. 1.-THE Scriptures teach it and
the fathers uphold it."
A distinguished member of the Romish
Church speaks on that matter as follows:
The rule of Biblical Interpretation imposed
upon US is, that "the Scriptures are not to be
of the Fathers" It is doubtful whether any
instance of that unanimous consent is to be
found. But this failing, the rule seems to lay
down the law of following, in their interpreta-
approach nnanimity. Accepting this rule, we
are compelled to abandon the usual modern
exposition of the words, "On this rock will
| build my church."
We find five different interpretations of those
words.
The first, that the Church was built on Peter
Foke, n7,,I
ing Origen, Cyprian, Jerome, Hilary, Angus
tine, Leo the Great, Cyril of Alexandria.
The second understands from these words
that the church was built on all the apostles,
whom Peter represented. Eight fathers think
SO, including Origen, Cyprian, Jerome, Angus
tine.
words are to be understood of the faith which
Peter professed--that this faith, this profession
of faith by which he believed Christ to be the
Son of the living God, is the everlasting and
immovable foundation of the Church. This
Interpretation is the soeighest Of all, since it lie
| followed by forty-four fathers and doctors. in-
Guiding Cyril of Alexandria, Hilary, Augustine,
the Great, Ambrose.
The fourth declares that the words are to be
understood of the rock which Peter confessed
THAT Is Christ-that the church was built
upon Christ This is held by sixteen fathers
| and doctors.
The fifth understands by the crock" the faith
full themselves, who, believing Christ to be the
of which the church is built.
From this it follows, that in support of the
priaacy, no argument at all, or one of the slen-
derest probability, is to be derived from the
words, :" on this rock will build my church, y
aRless 1t is certain that by the ''rockn Peter in
person is to be understood, and not in capacity
of chief apostle speaking for them. The word
supplies no argument whatever, do not say in
proof Of Papal intalfbilty, but even in support
of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome If we
are bound to follow the majority of the fathers
in this thing, then We are bound to hold for
certain, that by the Rock should be understood
| the faith.
AS to the other words of Christ to Peter :
Feed my sheep-feed my lambs the argument
clude the whole flock of Christ, and therefore
show power is conferred over oil, proves moth
ing at all. They are no moro general, nor do
they more express the idea of government than
those addressed by Paul to the Elders at Mile