New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-12
THE VATICAN DEGREES.

JOINT ADDRESS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS
OF GERMANY IN REILLY TO PRINCE BISMARCK.
Below are given the material parts OF the
Joint address OF the Roman Catholic Bishops OF Ger
many in repy Prince Bismarck spoken Of in recent
cable dispatch in THE TRIBUNE The document opens
with a statement that the conclusions arrived at in
Prince Bsmarcks circular respecting the election OF
Pope are "as unjustifable their premises ore IN
founded" The Bishops say:
Council TO justify the assertion that the Pope mas IN
consequence these enactments become an absoiuIe
soveye:. and a sovereign more absolute than any
otber monarcn -, the world: la the hrst Place, tne
Geld over which the eccesas, 1i ts nu
extends is distinct from that swayeo u, o., sovo.
power of monarch, nor do Catholics DENY uo -S,,
reigny OF rcunarchs in regard to secular ans oh
independently OF this. the designation OF fope S 70
soufe monarch inadmssiOle, even win reieicnce
the field allotted TO him. because the rope aci unaS
the law divine and is bound to adhere 10 tue ordinances
laid down by Christ for his Church me Pope cannot
change the divney ordained constitution OF the Church
noticai arrangements ntrusted to his keeping. The
constitution of the Church III all lts essenual points ID
based upon the direct inlnnetons OIL tne Dvlny aho
divine regulations which created the Pope created
euliar rights apa duties, allotted 10 them 10y Ood Hl.
self modify which tue Pope has neither the rght nor
the power Hence 1t is garng mistake 10 assume the
Vatican enaetments to have superseded episcopal
authority by Papa power and TO nave replaced by the
Pope bishops who heneeforth only his to0s aud
employes without any personal responsibility. Under
the eternal doctrine OF the Catholic Church u mas been
expressly declared by the no GTe ,pa sne
poyGs without personal responsibility. but pastors ap
pointed by the Holy Ghost to represent the Apostles
10 govern good Shepherds the f0cks intrustcd to
them In the eighteenth century OF CHRISTIAN ecceslas
tca history the Pspdcy has been placed over and by
the side Of the Episcopacy both being dviney insti
tutcd by Christi 1t Will be also IN the future.
We especially protest against the statement that the
bishops consequence Of tie Vatican enaetmeDts, have
lecome Papal employees without personal responsibility
and we beg observe that Is not the Catholic Church
which ackno lodges the immoral and despOtic princ
pie the command Of superior officer relieves the
subordinate from personal responsibility AS TO the
opinion that the Pope, by means of inidnDty mas De
come AN absolute Sovereign based upon an entirely
erroneous conception OF the dogma OF lnfal0ilty; as
the Vatican Council has clearly aud Enthusiastically pro
nounced Papal Infability, In accordance with the
ture of Things confined TO the field belonging TO the doc
tpal authority Of the Church. and Is restricted By Holy
The action OF the Pope in governing Church has in
no way been altered by the enactment Of Papal Infa
EpiscOpacy have been changed by the Vatican Council
being entirely ndetensoe the conclusion drawn from
tnese premises that the Pope mas assumed novel posi-
ton toward the governments 10 equ7liy Eonndloss
We cannot restrain ourselves from expressing
the deepest regret that in the above circalai
dispatch the German Imperial Chancellor should have
nd yapced opinions FOUNDED upon the assertions and
copieetures OF Protestant scholars md former
Catholics rebelng against tho whole legitimate epis
lions and cOnj:ctures have been repeatedly and
emphacay cOntradiced aud refuted by the Pope. the
bishops aud Catholic theOlORians and canoniss as the
legitimate representatives OF the Catholic Church. Iu
our respective d0ceses We have the right TO demand
that II the principles and doctrines OF Church are
be discussed in this WISE our opinion he taken too
ana that Sd long regulate conduct by these
principles aud DOCTRINES our words be credited In
thus correcting the erroneous version OF the Catholic
doctrine contained In the circular dispatch OF the
Prince Chancellor we have no wish to enter upon what
is hadowed that dispatch concerning the cleo
ton OF the Pope stili feel it duty pro
test solemny against the attempt made to interfere
with the Jude pendent election Of the Chief Of the Catho
lie Church, aud we declare that the validity OF any
Papal election can be decided only by the Church, to
whose authority every Catholic VIII Internationally
submit In Germany where else.