, 1874-12-13
ENGLAND,
THE RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY.
Corrtspanfence Qf the HelD York Times.

Correspondence ef the Ne.o York 7i,ats.
LONDON, Nov. q, 1874.
The infallibility controv ersy is still going on,
and it is significant that it is for tho present at
any rate, confined exclusively to Roman Catho-
lies. 1t has, in fnct. resolved itself into sort
OF triangular duel between the U1tramontanes,
the moderate Catholics, and sthe so-caIled Old
Catholics or Doellngorites. The great body
Of Protestants are content to look on, amazed
and amused at the very extraordinary logic
which is displayed by a1l sections OF the COM
batants. Monsignor Capel has expressed the
Ultramontano theory in m unmistakeab1o man
ner. ''The ecclesiastical power" he eaJs IS il
superior to the civil power, and defnos and
limits the ono and the other" The O'Donoghue
has come forward on the same side. ~ am,
Le says, " the representative Of Catholic con.
stituency, the son of Catholic nation, the de-
scendant OF Catholic ancestors, and I trust
shall be pardoned if there be my arrogance o.
presumption in saying TINT glory IN proclaim.
ing my entire submission to the authority of the
Pope" He explains, however, thrt this involves
the faithful discharge Of his duty as subject o1
the Queez. MY mind rejects as prepoaterouf
the idea that the Pope may, some fine morning
call upon mo to renounce my alegia nce." It il
obvious, however, that the acknowledgment o1
the absolute supremacy of tic ecclesiastical
power, and Of the duty OF entire submission
to it In everything, qualities rather seriously
the obligation OF loyalty to tue temporal
sovereign. Thoee Catholics who hold with Mon
Bignor Capel and The 0'Donohue arc loyal to tbs
English Government only iu 30 far as the Pope
cnjoins OF allows them to be SO. The second or
middle class Of Catholics ere disposed to dis
crininato between civil and spiritual authority,
but they do 60 in rather shadowy way. This i.
the limo taken by Sir George Bowyer and Lord
Arundel Of Wardonr. They feel bound to accept
the DEGREES Of the Vatican, but reppdiate The
extreme Interpretation Of them In an Eltrauaon.
tame sense. Lord Arundel repeats what he said
in 1864, that the Church decides the limits Of the
temporal only in deciding what is spiritual and
| urges that the objection that this is leaving
| everything to bo determined rs the last resort
| OF the Pope. ia best answered by PRACTICAL OK
| pertenca. He argues that, as tho Pope has not
yet attempted to enforce his supposed SUBPOENA
cy IN temporal matters, be is never likely to do
80, and that 1t will be time enough for Roman
Catholics to consider the question when it actu-
ally ar'sea Hero. again, it ia clear that, logical
y, Lord Arundel would hnve to submit to the
Pope, II His Holiness chose to exercise tho pow
er which be claims in theory. But, Of course, il
theory il Of no consequence, tllRt Is another
matter. There remain tho i-Ultramouta1,cs
such IS Catholic Lord Acton, who fatty deny
tho lnfa1libity Of tho Pope, and claim the right
to exercise their Own judgment on all civil dues-
tions. There is no difficulty in 1econcilinQ faith
! and loyalty in this. case, but On the
other hand, Catholics who insist upon the
! right Of private Judgment h4vo quilted the
| only logical foothoId OF the Catholic faith. In
to-days Times Lord Acton justi6es, in 4 lottcl
OF nearly four columns. his charges against thc