The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-28

tended to be used only once in q POpeh
lifetime. They studied it in connection
motive for asserting iii. they considered
the objects to be gained by it; they fell
convinced that it would prove that IS infal
libility is not impeccability." They be-
lieved that it proposed to clothe the Pope
with authority and power to array the
Church against the State all over the world
and to re- establish on the ruins of civil
government, not the Kingdom of Christ
but the kingdom of the Pope.
Their opinions are entitled to respect, foI
none could better know the character and
ambition of the Papacy. In this aspect OF
the question, our Roman neighbor desires
to convince us that the Pope's infallibility
is doctrine of tue word Of God.
The proposition they lay down for the
establishment of that important theory is
| this, namely: Peter was an infallible Pope,
consequently the Pope is m infallible
Peter.
Between such premises and such conclu-
sions the argument will find a hard road to
travel. Fortunately, we are invited at
present to nothing more difficult than to
listen to the clear and conclusive declara-
tons of Scripture that Peter was infallible.
These they propose to furnish.
l.. When did Peter become infallible
Popef We are informed that he became
on the day of Pentecost. f" Previous to that
time he was not infaIlible," and, according
to our neighbo', he was not even con-
verted.
We must ask for some evidence that
Peter was made Pope at that time. We
time he was invested with any kind of pre-
rogative or authority which the rest did
not possess. We cannot fnd either that he
claimed to be so, or that the rest acknow-
lodged him as such. In fact, the word
Pope is not even mentioned in the record,
OF the second chapter of Acts. We must
ask for more light on this point.
2. We are asked what we have to say to
the words, Thou art Peter, and on this
rock" etc. Feed my Neutrality-suspicious.
firm thy brethren" etc.
The answer is furnished us. In assuming
of Pentecost, they admit that, in speaking
those Mords- PsepieHsly, Ghrist-did not
thereby make him iDfaiiibie. We do not
need then to discuss these texts, till it is
shown that the words would make him in
fallible afterwards, which did not make him
infa!lible at the time they were addressed
to him.
8. Every one will see that if Peter was
iDfallible, both he, the other apostles and
the churches would have known the fact,
and acted accordingly. But we find, Acts.
Is, that whom dispates arose in the church
~ Autiocu, Gnoy, appeared not 60 refer the
so-called Pope-to decide them, but to the
Apostles. We find that at the first council
the sentence was not delivered by the So
called Pope, but by James. We find that
the letters to Antioch were not sent in the |
name of Peter, bat in the name of the |
Apostles. We find that instead of sending
the Apostles about to carry ont his plans, |
the Apostles sent Peter to execute theirs, |
Acts. 8, Ia. We find further, that if Peter |
was admitted to have any of sort supremacy, |
it was in the words Of Paul, who admits !
that the gospel Of the circumcision was |
to Peter, Galat, TT. Bnt he
Peter to the Apostleship Of the circumci-
sion, the same WAS mighty in me toward |
the Gentiles." If then Peter had an apos-
eolic supremacy, it was in respect to the
Jews. Paul claims just as great and the
same kind of supremacy for himself among
the Gentilee. Then even supposing the
,an only claim to be Pope over Jewish con-
Verts or Jews. The entire Gentle world,
embracing almost the whole territory ever
occupied by the Romish Church, if they
must have Pope among the Apostles, are
entitled to no other than Paul.
Justice to this question, because we do not
understand the meaning of 1nfallibility.
We had, however, enlightened ourselves on
hat point, by reading the explanation of
Bishop Elder, of Natchez, in letter to
chevalier Layton, published by the MORN.
NG STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER, of
April ID. 1t runs as follows:
The interest which the Holy Father has so
manifested of late in Catholic Asso-
cations ought to be sufficient evidence that the
Divine Wisdom sees in them important
means fer advancing the welfare of men. For
:he Holy Ghost is the Soul of the Church, and
ae speaks through the Sovereign Pontif, the
Vicar of it's Divine Head.
Let us apply this explanation to the
went described in the second chapter of
3alations. Peter had been taught by the
Holy Ghost to make no distinctions to the
of the Gentle Christians.
At the Council, Acts. Is, he gave his vote for
then, into full membership. On
hem. But after the arrival of certain
,harasaio Jews he separated from these
Christians and conformed to the exclusive
customs of the Jews, who held that such
customs were essential to salvation.
Now if Peter were infallible in the sense