New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-24
THE OLD CATHOLIC CONGRESS-.

Tho Independent publishes long article
from the Able Michaud on the results OF the
Congress of Old Catholics at Cologne, which
closed its sessions on the ed Of September
The meeting this year seems to have attracted
much more interest than the first assemblage
of the Old Catholics which was held in 1871
at Munich. How much progress the re-
volt against the Papacy has made we
have no data for determining. Not more
than twenty priests have thus far enrolled
themselves among DR.. D0llingers followers;
but the movement has strength among the
laity, and especially in some OF the umVer-
sites, and the number of delegates to the
Congress was no less than four hundred.
But it was not only from its own members
that the Congress took character. Represent
atives of the Anglican, Greek, Russian, and
Armenian cOmmunions and of the Jansenist
Church of Holland were invited to send rep
rescntatives, and some of them did so. The
English bishops of Lincoln and Ely made
addresses. DR.. Bluntschli, the distinguished
iurist, spoke as the President of the German
Protestant Union and DR.. Rose of New York
acted as representative of the German Cath
olcs of the United States, although there is
no evidence thus far that the German Cath
olcs of this country, as a body, are in SYM
pathy with the new reform.
The Congress therefore was interesting first
as an attempt at the unity of various Chris
tian sects, and secondly as an organized re-
volt. against infallibility within the Roman
communion. There were many friendly ex-
presslons of sentiment and aspirations for the
growth of charity and the cultivation of
spirit of tolerance; but the delegates and their
guests were both too sensible not to perceive
that anything more than sentimental union
was entirely out of the question. The idea
suggested some time ago by DR.. D0llinger of
modifying the ltuTges and discipline of the
various churches to facilitate uniformity of
worship seems to have been abandoned. Pro-
fessOr Reinkens Of Breslau, one of the leaders
of the Congress, declared that the time was
not ripe for such a grand idea, and the most
that could be hoped for was an agreement of
the confessions on the basis of the Bible and
the first seven councils. A vast field of re-
ligiOus controversy, it is evident, would still
be left as neutral ground; while as for the
great body of Dssenters in England and the
corresponding Protestant denominations of the
United States, the Old Catholics do not recOg-
uize them at all. A Committee of ten men,
beers, including Dr. D0llinger and the Able
Mchaud, was appointed to meet at Cologne
and correspond with the other churches on
this question of union; but no very great re-
suit is expected from its labOIs.
A more practical question, in the judgment
of most of the delegates, seems to have been
the position of the Old Catholics themselves
as an organized body. Assuming to represent
the Catholic Church as it existed up to July,
1870-to be in fact the true body of believers
from which the Pope and his adherents Sc
coded when the dogma of infallibility was pro-
nounced-they demand recognition by the
State, stipend for their clergy, and the pos
session of the church edifces. To secure this
sanction from the civil power they have pro-
ceeded with the greatest caution. They have
been careful to reject no doctrine of the Cath
Ole Church except the one tenet of infalli-
bility. They have lost no opportunity to i'm
press upon the Government. the incOmpati-
bility of that doctrine with the sovereignty of
the State and they hope to induce the ruling
powers to require Of all the bishops q declara-
ton of allegiance such as Count Bismarck
vainly endeavored to obtain from the Bishop
Of Ermeland. The result of this they believe
would be to bring so many of the bishops
over to their side that the Government would
have no difficulty in recognizing them as the
Catholic Church, and giving them the powers
and emoluments they desire. Until this great
point is settled, it would manifestly be impol-
itic for them to attempt any reforms within
the Church or any great change of discipline,
or any modification of doctrine.
Indications are not wanting, however, that
when once recognition by the secular power
is obtained wide departure from the present
canons and fOrmularies of the Church may be
anticipated. THE reader who has watched
the course of the Old Catholics" says the
Able Michaud, " from tho beginning of this
movement to the present day, will not fail
to notice the advance made by the Cologne
Congress- as compared with that which as
sembled at Munich. The Cologne
Congress did not scruple to pronounce the
present Church of Rome hereticaI." The
Able himself, in public discourse, repudiated
the authority Of all the Church Councils since
that held at ConstantinOple in ESQ, and a
committee was appointed to make a critical
examination of the teachings of subsequent
synOds, and " reject whatever should be