The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-03-31

| vaulSCsc JOAee winch make one 1DVOiun
tarily shudder and look around to see if tn
stake and faggots are ready. Don't jok
any more, neighbor, ~ makes us feel bad
It Is unearthIy.
The funny part of tho above quotation
10, however, not intended for joke at all
1t il that portion of it where We are darei
to dieprove tue authors proposition before
he hss proved it. The writer boldly
asserts that Papsl Infallibiiisy {" has been
repeatedly rejected by the highest au.
thoritiea Of the Church." and then naively
| enough istiDates that we ney try oul
hand at disproving it. Simple assertions
are best met by simple denials and we
deny this assertion as not only false but
laughably SO.
The Presbyterian then goes on so quote
from Catholic theologians to the effect that
the Pope has preregatives which, il certain
respects, cver-ride- those of kings and en-
pe7ors. Very bad would it be, truly, for
the poor and oppressed of all lands if this
were not 30. It says:
Cardinal Bellarmine declares that the Popes
have the right to absoive subjects from their
oath end 10 divest kings Of their dignity and
authority.
The Pyesbyterian no doubt acknowledges
the right of revolution on occasion to tab
solve Subjects from their ostbs and divest
kings of their authority" Itgtosies in Crom-
we'll, who. knew how to- absolye himself
from such saths, and to divest kings not
only of tleir digpities but Of their heads.
Presbyterianism is the essence Of Protest
aDtism, and Professionalism has never scrn-
pied to rid itself of all inconvenient rulers
under one sasetimonious Plea or another.
1t was born IN revolution and fattened on
wars waged to. aivest kings Of their autho-
rity. ProtestaatisD never hesitases to pro-
claim the higbeg law, it merely ignores the
High Priest of that law. 1t declares that
conscience must not yield to the wicked
pess OF unjust government, bas makes each
Dan the judge for himself Of that injustice.
1t holds precisely THE same doctrine which
is above attributed 10 Bellara sine, II ycu
omit the word "Pepe" and substitute '+svn.
science" for it. Thus: d" When oonse;enee
demands it, subjects Gre absslved from
their oath of allegiance, and may sa,est
the king Of his authority"
Will the Presbyterian deny thisf Will
it cay that a man must violate his con-
science to obey wicked lawsf WHll it say
shat the nsurpation and inhuma1 cruelty |
Of monster on the throne can never jas
tify good people in drposing him 2: 1t dare !
not assume q positions so vile. Wkat then
The Catholic and the Protestant. bold the (
same doctrine. Eacbsa when the SOW
eEeign reaches q cevtain pitch Of inmo-
sality, impiety or brutality, may cast him
od. The only difference is that tbs Catao-
lic adds, 1 will leave IL to the Pope to Judge !
when that point has been attained ). the |
Protestant says, I will judge of that nay
self.
History will tell rs in which tsibenal
this power is most likely to be abused. 1t
will show how seldom the Pope has
been obliged to proclaim the sacss& right
Of conscience as being opposed to the tenn
poral power, and it will show what scenes of
horror and devastation have been enacted,
hundreds and hundreds of times, IN the
holy name of conscience as Interpreted by
individual passion and caprice. american
Catholics are not 10 be guiled by % little
absurd ftttery. They know that the
higher law, the right of revolution, is much
safer under the control of St. Paaer's sue
lessor than in the hands of such self-con.
'tituted Popes as Cromwell, Joha, Knox or
The New Orleans Presbyterian
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