New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-08
CATHOLIC CONTROVERSY.

pECREFs-HIs OPINIONS SUPPORTED BY lord
HRRRIEs AND CANON oAKELEY-LoRDs ACTON
AND cAMoYs SUSTAINED BY MR.. HENRY PErRE
,rsox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRI1UNE.l
IoSDoN Nov. 17.-Whether Mr.. Gladstone by
himself would have succeeded in convincing his
countrymen of the dangers If Ultramontanism may
be question. But he has been reinforced by an
unexpected ally. The Ultramontanes themselves
have come to his aid. From the Catholic opponents
of the UltramOntanes, from Lord Acton and Loru
Camoys. the Protestant leader has received I'M
portant help But it is perhaps Monsignor Capei
who will prove his most useful coadlutor. Capel u
reekoned a strong man among the Roman C"'uonoS'
learned and shrewd, and one of the leadlng spIl's
IN the new Catholic University at kenslngton'
Sbrewd he certainly is in sense skilled dlalect-
cian more cunning perhaps than able, and
betraving every now and then that strange
ignorance of English feeling which the
best of the UltramOntanes are so likely
10 show He publishes letter in The Times OF Nov.
B which is an example of this blindness. FIRST
challenging Lord Acton to give the authorities for
his "atrociOus charges" against the Holy See ana
reading Lord CamOys out of the Church. he then
laws down the propositions that before as well as
after the Vatican DEGREES Infallbiliy belonged TO
the Church. and Catholics were bound to hold that
II did, and that the Vatican Decree merely asserted
the unerring exercise of the Infalibility of the
Church through its Head. The Church. Monsignor
Capel then tells us. has always held that the
ecclesiastical power superior TO the civil and de-
fines the limit of one and the other" and that
where the civil power passes its proper province
then has the Church the right TO raise her voice and
condemn IT," What is this but to reafirm Mr.. Glad
stones proposition that Rome requires her convert
10 place his civil duty at the mercy of another, and
hat other the POpei The Times forcbly says:
Let US translate these principles into concrete form,
and they thitha the POpe's power Is supe-
rfor of Queen Victoria. and defines the limit
WITHIN which she may ed and that II the Legs-
ature passes province which the Pope defines as
"properi for it, he has the right TO condemn it, and
consequently 10 from all Roman Catholics Obedi-
enoe himself and disObedence 10 the law. There Is
DO possible escape from this simple translation Of Mon
sgnor Capels propositions II no longer be denied
since TIE proclamation of the POpes infability that
"fne ecclesiastical 20 yer'' simply the Pope.
foreign eccesastc thus claims the right OF defining the
limits Of Parliamentary and Royal authority in England,
and If the allegiance OF man who admits this be not
divided. there would seem meaning IN words.
And although the question Is thus for the moment
taken out of the political field. which is the only
one have entered in this discussion. will quote
what The Times says upon the illustrations adduced
by MonsignOr Capel. l quote ii because it shows
how strong the English feeling is in the matter re-
frrred to. that of priesty interference in domestic
relations and how strangely ignorant of this feel
ing As remarked above. Roman eccesiastlcs. even
the most distinguished Of them, like CapeL, con-
tinue TO be:
II there could be a further doubt the subject Mon
slsnor Capel himself supplies with an illustration
which viii serve 10 bring home TO every Protestant
the practical meaning OF division OF allegiance
AS cases" he says, may arise in which a child must
obey God rather than It's parent 50 likewise 1t may un-
fortunately happen the state abuse Its power
and conscience, clearly percelving this legitlmatey
refuse obedience But the exception In the first in
a uorf uSu rs a
glance neither does second This reference to
the family exhibits fOrcOly the faacy OF the
parallel drawn by Archbishop Manning ana MonsignOr
Capel between obligations imposed by conscience"
and those imposed by Roman Catholic authority. Prot
esants fully that fathers authority over his
child or husbands his wife, is only valuable so
far as IL is limited and enlightened by conscience But
there is have felt more 6eeny than the dis
organization liable be introduced into families when
conscience Is embodied the visible form Of Roman
Catholic priest third person intrudes upon ila
or marital relations when wife taught 70 direct her
conduct merely by an enlightened conscience but
by tue guidance OF third person, English husbands
feel very strongly that they are JUSTIFIED IN speak
ing Of her allegiance divided Il is the intrusion Of
third person thlrd will and third mind which makes
the whole Inference. MonsynOr Cape could not have
quoted an example which would make more strongly |
against him. or which wOud bring home more closely 10
English feeling the difference between Roman CathO-
Die aud Protestant "coDscIence."
Journal on the following morning Lord Herries |
protests most soemny' against the opinions of |
Lord Acton and Lord Clmoys Gas being neither
fonsonaut with the faith Of the Catholic Church nor
with the opinion Of their Catholic fellow country
men," Tie accepts InialiibllIty 70 the toll, bold
n, that rnc ropv, being Christ. yiGaI on earth,
uust be infahble or the promises 0f Christ must
have failed" But Lord Herries's logical faculties
are not Of a force 70 tit him 10 take part in such
controversy as this. Finding it difficult to define
where spiritual and civil authority might clash, he
concludes that conscience can best decide each
ones duty" II Lord HerTies spiritual adviser does
not set him pretty penanco for thus erecting his
OVID conscience mo a tribunal 10 Judge between an
Inlanble supreme Pope and a falhble inferior civil
power, discipline must be easy IN Eyeringh
Park.
Canon Oakeley appears IN company with Lord
Herries but his letter like Lord Actions, IS adj
dressed 70 MI Gladstone personally. He is the
"Mr Oakeley now. alas! ours moreP whose
perverson Alr. Gladstone lamented in his COntem-
porary Rec,etc article on Rtuasm and Of whom he
said:
The pan Church now enjoys the advantages of the /
tabors Of Mr. Oakeley who united 70 a fine muslcaI
taste much finer and rarer gift in DISCERNING ana ex
pressing the harmony between the ln"aIu purposes Vi
CHRISTIAN worship and Its outward invesn1re' anu VINO
then had gathered round him congregation the most
devout and hearty that Cor one) have ever seen az any
communion OF the Christian wOrld'
ene Of this praise of him. Mr.. Oakeleys letter IS
Iong and sentimental not 10 say lachTymose rather
than vigorous either in statement or argument lie
finds proof of Catholic loyalty III the fact that they
don't vote against pensions 10 the Royal family |
that they are NOT Republicans, that they cheer |
when the Queens name Is mentioned IN public |
meetings and that there are plenty Of Catholics in