New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-09
r.s.rdmg real power of the bishop. mere

urciOc - fNes Po"ei w sHS S&N~Sf- -
The words of Gregory the First. "I shall have my
distorted by Plus TX: The other bishops honored
through my honor" The former constitution Of the
its very fuudameut and in the place Of Gcumenical
Council the Pope has been put the Universal Bishop:
Those So opposition Bishops Who July 49, 1870 hau
voted non pdcet" were decidedly the most nelligent
OF the whule Roman Catholic Christendom. They under
stood the victory which the Jesuits had gained by TINS
conscience wheh before aud during the council bad
spoken 80 loudly TO them, theyafter the councisuo
Mite :, the Papal decree Instead Of fulall,
trw ley bad solelnny promised TO tne.
chs ordance with the Apostolic word, ." that
ned 20 please men, cannot be servant OF
1eided. And what did determine t Insal
pr Nothing but miserable consideriF
vel They did not wish IN erieve or pro
Tather, as they had testified before their
IT, 1870 20 their own eternal shame
fre1errng please poor sinful man. they ceased to
oe servants Of Christ
Further quotations from the later writings Of these
bishops belonged, Will, trust be superfuous IL
would I've grieyous an actually disgusting task CIV
aug their full and unconditional assent 20 the DEGREES OF
the Council they requested the faithful TO receive tue
f dogna ny S9 ter peope OF DnSyaoD
they heaped lie upon lie And what drove them ~ such
cowardy dishonorabe flight OF their colors Solely
70 avoid this they were prepared To bring the very
highest sacrifice OF obedience that Of their own reason
(sacrheed their own lntelecU
This is most clearly shown. in the action of Bishop
Hee the learned and renowned author OF the history
mock cOuncil had been dissolved he wrote cannot
betray my conscience would rather lose my place"
this explanation The peace and unity OF Church
are of such high value that the greatest and bitterest
What a mistaken sacrifice! What hypocrisyl As II
truth not infinitely more valuable than mere exter-
Ldsten to the following solemn declaration OF the
German Episcopacy, given before the Council; how
they contadicted themselves ~ their savish subsection
ave sOleInny declare that. Firstly, The Gcumenical
Council viii never proclaim any doctrine which is not
contained in Holy Scripture, or in the traditions Of the
Church; and that, Secondly, The Council will not pro-
claim any different doctrines from those which
by faith and conscience are Inscribed on the hearts OF
all people, and which, having been considered sacred by
Christian nations throughout all ages, are now and ever
The basis upon which the welfare OF states aud the free
dom OF nations rest"
Yet these same German bishops Frustrated themselves
under Popsh tyranny, aud this at time when, after
the battle Of Sedan, the whole German nation felt
allied beyond measure and when the unity Of the Ger
Empre. the aim OF long and patient efforts, was
reached at last This, above all others, the moment
when the German Catholic Church ought TO have re-
turned 10 the prmacy of st. Boniface ts founder And
because this not done, Germany now became the
real and actual center OF the Old Catholic movement
Just in the sixteenth century she had been the cradle
of the Reformation.
The battle OF Old Catholicism began at Nuremburg
about the end OF July 1870 by some renowned Catholic
scholars. 1t the opposition OF science Of historical
criticism OF philosophy and canonical law The conse-
quence that tue Bishops after yalnly urging the
subsection OF their opponents, suspended and
communicated them. thereby provoking most
decided oppostion-became now a serious matter Of
conscience. Congress at Munich about Whitsun-
day. 1871 largely attended by people Of all classes
and the following programme was decided upon That
they wished TO continue in the Old Catholic faith,
given In Scripture and IN the traditions OF the Church,
and were therefore obliged 10 reject the Vatican crees
as Innovations. No council had a right 10 proclaim
dogmas which were not in accordance with the faith and
the conscience of the people The right OF scientific
vestigatOn insisted upon their agreement with the
principles OF modern States in opposition TO the papal
SYLLABUS was pronounced. and 1t resolved that the
efforts OF the Jesuits hurtfu to public welfare should
be stopped. The aim OF their resolution was for the
formation of parishes of their thorough reform
church discipline, and last, least,
with the separated Christian churches The party made
important progress at the meeting at Cologne; the
former ois-Alpine Rome September, 1870. A large
number Of priests the most eminent theoogians
and cannOnists, renowned historians and philOso-
pliers and almost all the Catholic pro-
lessons of the German universities declared
their adherence. They joined IN great numbers by
the educated aymen aud although the mass OF the peo
Die remained passive from lndlherentsm or narrow
;ndedness steady-rsing life was nevertheless shown
wherever parishes had been formed Four hundred
delegates different parishes aud societies attended,
,ise moderation being exercised by all as was neces-
sary for such mixture OF radical elements Important
resolutions the future development or Old Catho
cism reference 10 itself and the state were passed
ms relation 10 other churches was also considered.
l. The present bishops OF Rome cannot he recognized
any onger as the head of the Catholic Church. neither
can those bishops who yielded to the Vatican dogma be
considered Catholic bishops any longer Their excOm
munication is therefore without effect
q The old Catholics justified IN claiming all rights
ron and law belonged TO the Catholic Church.
a The present situation s not only distressing the
Old Catholics individually who cut of from the Church,
are driven by necessity to the organization Of new par
be overnment but it is distressing also to The whole
Catholic Church az large as formerly a heretea Pope
could deposed, which after the pronunciation OF the
new dogma. is impossible The above resolution that
the Roman Pope and the bishops Obeying him do law
fully exist no longer is therefore final.
A. Asst is Impossible for us To nominate the epsco-
macy i'm the normal manner, be IL resolved that We
return the ancient form OF election by the clergy and
NAM reforms were made at Cologne and number OF
Romsh states abolished, indugeDces alteration
of the Virgin Mary and the saints scapulaTie pas meat
~ nTnIice fees and sfIpends for masses The German
Iau be used during Abolition Of
cehbacy recommended by the ldlty. The obligatory
character of the confessional was to cease and several
things were TO be changed In the church eeremOnals
Further reforms were postponed until an OLD Catholic
CburcA with episcopacy and synods could DE organized
Seetv for further reforms Is given in the expulsion OF
all Jesuc excrescences, and IN the very principle OF
Old Catholicism; only such dOgmas can be proclaimed
which can he proved from the Scriptures from the
ancient ecclesiastical traditions.
With regard to the state aud modern civilization, the
Old Catholics openly rejected the Syllabus OF December
1864 which is lnfable They 10 this decision,
nse In condemns nor only freedom Of faith and con.
science, but freedom OF scientific investigation also,
which they especially need They declared their adj
herence TO the civil constitutions Of their respective
states thereby rejecting the dogma OF Papa oversight,
80 dangerous to civil law, and resolved that IN the
battle with Rome. they would side with the states For
these the German and Swiss Governments pro-
tested and recognized them.
TIE fatherand" Of the German Old Catholics does
NOT lie ultra monies that Of the Infallblists, but
their heart and their love with the united Ger
many hourshng IN industries, ana advancing In politics
The hopes for the existence and development OF the
Old Catholic movement have been raised higher yet
during the present year Dy the epscOpa eectloni ~
Cologne June T. ~ priests and IS who repre-
sentative delegates of $1,000 souls, partOok in IL. The
number of eligible priests who must e 80 years,
was 30 OF the n votes DR. Reinkens late professor
Of theology at BTesau, received SO.
After his acceptance, free love and devotion Tint not
obedience promised to him HIS ordination by the
Bishop Deventer Bishop Of the Utrecht Church. took
place at Rotterdam Aug II. In his pastoral he proves
the right of his bishoprc, and describes his task as
service 10 the faithful.
"Itis the bishops task TO preach himself and the
interests OF his position, but Jesus Christ His minis
tratons the believers not his property but the H.
hertance of the children Of God " which he Is but a
steward IL belongs TO the epscopacy preach obedi
eDce the civil authorities s religious duty for con-
sciences sake"
About three weeks ago Sept ~ Bishop r. solemnly
declares that the papal command read the BLDG
was thenceforh not binding for the Old Catholics; ne
on the contrary urges that all Old Cath
oics shond read the dear holy Book again and again
ana should all humility and Joy rhe feet Of the
Lord for He alone has the words OF eternal life.
meeting of deleRatea AZ Cnnsfance nccented a new