The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-18
PAPAL AVAILABILITY.

THE DEFINITION IN APPLEroN's CYcIoPGDIL
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
correspondent In your issue Of this day takes
exception to the article "Iniallibility'' In the
American Oycop@dia. o. course. far exception,
well taken and sustained BY good proofs, would DO
service done to truth as we'll as to the public.
Hence, in order that the public be not misled by q
question OF persons or names, 1t Is mere submitted
that nothing approaching to personality ought to
be mixed up with q serious discussion OF great
doctrinal or historical fact.
On looking at the article impugned In the
Cyclop8dia 1t Is found to consist OF two parts; an
exposition ofthe doctrine ofinralibiity claimed
by Catholics, both for the Church and Tor the
Supreme P0ntif1; and the history OF the dogma 1t.
sell, as manifested by the acts OF the Roman bsh-
ops from the earliest times, and BY the contro.
verses which the exercise Of these acts occa-
stoned.
The doctrinal exposition Ia lett untouched by
your correspondent, and yet 1t is tho essential
part OF the article. As to the historical part It
aims at being brief statement OF the exercise of
pontifcal supremacy from the earliest ages and Of
the opposition which this exercise met with.
The author on this part OF tile subject, makes
but one statement as his Own-where he intro
duces the history Of the dogma in these words:-
"The doctrine OF pontlfcal infallibilitv, theOlogi
cay considered, Is Intimately connected with the
pOntlnCa supremacy; ana, considered historically,
1t Is seen tnat from the exercise OF the supremacy
was gradually evolved aud finally asserted 10, the
Vatican decrees) the prerogatlve OF inIalibity.
claimed a supreme and final authority IN deciding
all ecclesiastical disputes, and this claim they
founded the TACT OF the See Of Rome's being the
seat OF Peters authority and OF their being his
successors with supreme jurisdiction over the
entire Church. On the other hand, the opposition
to the exercise OF this supremacy forms parallel
ana continuous record In the early Church down
to the contamination OF the Photlan scnism."
exercise oil pOnt!ncal in1ah6lity are thus briefly
enumerated. rhey are familiar TO all theological
students Protestant as well as Catholic.
Among the adverse facts put forward as proofs
by non-inlalllbiists and always admitted as lob
to lew popes such as Honorius L.. LiDerius, &c.
The writer In the Cycopadia in introducing this
claim Of deciding all ecclesiastical causes without
appeal. thus distinctly formulated in the fifth GEN.
sc 81 n Roman GGsa @ my
poly tus, as well as the instances in which popes
lell INTO neresy or encouraged heretlcal opinions.
Sucn were the cases." DC.
IL Is manifest that the writer, in stating the OBJ
lection as ne was bound to DO IN all harness. does
not thereby adopt the terms in wncn 1t is stated
as conveying ms own opinions or convcuons.
Else every theologian, who, from the days OF st.
Thomas Aqulnas down TO Giovanni PerrOne, the
latest and most popular opponent OF Catholic
dogma, could be held accountable for stating the
accusations brought against these Popes
Had the author OF the article "ln alnbIlity" sus-
tanned In formal thesis the truth OF these oDjec-
tons, then, inueed. he would lay himself larry
the brief space oil u cyciOpRoia article, ne merely
states the great historical facts on both SIDES OF
long controversy, 1t is neither reasonable nor just
so 70 pcrvcrt his meaning or to attribute TO MIN
opinions and sentiments known TO be wholly DIFF
ferent rom his avowed CONVICTIONS
Moreover, as to the merits OF each question re-
garding the individual popes mentioned persons
VINO have the new edition OF the encyclopaedia"
can read for their own satisfaction the articles
Hippolytus and Honorlus |. in volume s. rhey
Will see Tor themselves, be they Protest ants or
CathuIics that the writer labors console uousy
to set lurth historical truth win a sovereign re-
spect TOR that truth and with no lear that the
knowledge vi 1t can be injurious to the Church or
offensive 10 the holy see.
AS to the personalities in which your corre-
spondent INDUCES, such things are much to De
deprecated Ia religious disputes. The writer of
"lniallDility'' Is doubtless open to friendly ad-
vice, ana those who know MIN best know well that
ne Will ever accept with reverence the lust CEN
sure or his ecclesiastical superior.
But till your correspondent be enlightened, or
unbiased enough not TO mistake an objection for
formal thesis and just enough to abstain from
the most injurious accusations founded on mis- own
mistake, ms iurtnor attacks should be allowed 10
pass unn0ticed. NINDEN
NEW YORK, January IL, 1875.