The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-16
The Popes Exercising Infallibility.

ticle, though considerably exceeding
column in length, will be found published
by Us to day intact. We could hardly hn'
a convenient place to cut it of, but mus
caution our neighbor to be more exact TO
the future.
We do net pause to notice it's reply. L
lie indeed no reply at all but simply con
tinuation of the same argument already
disposed Of by us. 1t is an additional ex
| tract Tor purports to be) from the Canon
Law or documents sanctioned by the Can
on Law in those phrases where provision
ia made for proceeding against heretics
We have said to this.
lst. That heretics in those days were
generally notorious criminals. The Mani
cheans, for instance. respected neither God
nor nature. They taught as articles of
their religion, assassination, fratricide, par
ricide, incest and every Accumulation against
which the soul revolts as disgusting and
unnatural.
?. That the Church did not decree their
punishment, but merely left them to the
laws of the different governments. Centu-
ries before any such canons were promul-
gated, the Emperors of Rome decreed the
sevcrcst penalties against beretirs.
3fd. But chiefly we told our opponent
that no attribute of infallibility was ex-
ercised or could have been exercised in
these provisions OF the Canon Law. They
did not come within the conditions OF sbe
dogma and it is not very creditabie to the
k,,s fair nf nfrny sixlIa ar
argue as though they were embraced with
in that scope when he must know that they
are not.
If serious argument is attempted to the
effect that these provisions, 80 dissastefal to
our neighbor, are included within the field
EN- braced by the dogma OF Infallibility, We
shall hold ourselves bound to notice it as
But SO far as it is a mere charge of inhu-
mainly or folly against the Popes, we
must defer any discussion of it to another
occasion. Our motive for this ia not a
to have any point whatover in
the history Of the church or the Popes VEN
tilated. On the contrary all Catholics
ought to know of every objection that is
habitually brought against their church,
and understand exactly wherein 1t is
fallacy or a sophism, and bow is may exist
rs a fact without compromising the church
either in its sanctity or its doctrine.
But we decline entering upon those top
les under an issue foreign to them. After
the present discussion is ended, we will
take up with the Presbyterian any Of the
CO llateral subjects which it has been 80 anx-
ious to foist upon us. The Jesuit mission,
the lives of the Popes, the Canon Law OF
any topic it may select Will suit us. To
discuss them now would mako the subject
interminable.
We, therefore, 60 on with our proofs that
been recognized in the Church. by giving
some prominent instances of Its exercise
from the earliest ages.
First Centary.-ST. CLEMENT, (the 4th
Pope), according to Ireueus, wrote most
powerful letters to the Corinthians to re-
into great dissensions. And he was sue
cessfui. This was while St. John the
Evangelist was still living, and it is evil
dent that the Corinthians would have ap-
Piled to him instead Of to Rome, had it not
been understood that Peters successor was
the controlling power in the Church.
Second Century.-Pope VICTOR ordered
a council of the Bishops of Palestine to be
convoked in reference to the subject of the
Paschal time, aud threatened to excommu-
nicate Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, for
celebrating that feast according to the
jewish custom. This appeared to 1reneus
and others, to be rather severe, but they
did not call in question the power thus
claimed by the Pope over tar distant
churches. He also condemned the beresieS
of Ebion and others infaElibIy, and his de-
cree was not disputed.
Pope HYGINUs condemned the heresies
of Marciop and others.
Pope ECLEUTHERIUs condemned the
GnoStic heresy.
Third CentWry.-ST. STEPHEN, Pope
condemned the error of African and Ash
attic Bishops, who baptized over again con
verts that had been baptized by heretics'
He prohibited this re baptism under threat