The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-03-26
d" CHURCH AND STATE"
From tine Mobile Cycle March 1ei


The lecture of the Right Reverend Bishop
Qainlan, last Tuesday evening on this sutiect
was heard by a large and very intelligent au.
dience. The Bishop spoke for an hour and
twelve minutes, in a plain, direct, and almost
conversational style, without the least fl ,rt
at defamation or mere effect His exposi-
tiou of the true relations between the two
authorities, divine and humSn, was such as
we presume almost every intelligent Christian
would accept in the main. Some delicate and
difficult questions that arise in the practical
application of these principles were not treat
| ed of-as indeed would have been scarcely
possible within the limits of single lecture.
With regard to more distinctive tenets of
the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishops ex-
position of them was firm and positive, but
moderate. courteous and in excellent temper.
His statement of the principles governing
the Church in its relations with temporal rulers
questionsbiy known % as TIE 1y DARK aee:a-Was Uas
familiar but the most interesting points in
the lecture were those in which he explained
the altered relations of the Pope to certain
civil rulers in the present ago, and in which
he exposed the faiiRcy of Bome popular misap-
prehensions relating to the Declaration of the
Infallability of the Pope.
Bishop Quinlan argued that, when the
princes and peoples Of 'Christendom" CON
stituted one household of faith, recognizing
the Pope as their spiritual head, his authority
was properly exercised in suppressing violence
and promoting Justice and charity. In those
days civil rulers were invited to participate in
general councils. Now, however, they were
divided into scots and parties, and aI having
virtually repudiated his authority, he had
very properly ignored them in summoning the
late Council.
With regard to IDfallibility, the right rev.
erend lecturer denied that it had made any
change in the relations of Church and State
or had interposed any fresh dific1lty in the
way of faith. The Catholic Church, he said,
had always accepted the infallibility Of pou-
menical councils. Was there any more sbsur-
dity, or antecedent improbAbility, in believing
the aid of the Holy Spirit would be invariably
given to one bishop, under certain pre-
scribed conditions, than that it could be
given to an assembly of nine hundred or o
thousand Of them? The infalIibility was not
personal. If the Pope should write letter of
advice to him (Bishop Qninlan) it might como
With moro or Iess of authority, according to
circumstances, or with mono az all, but there
would be no attribute Of infaIIi6iIity attaching
TO it. This is purely official, and exists only
when the POntif is speaking eE catke4rG, and
0ddreSsing the GVAoLe charck, on Q question of
faith or morale. 1t is merely the mode of fulfil
ment Of the promise of our Divine Lord to be
with his Church always Cor more properly all
days) TO the end Of the world.
We are not pretending to give the language,
or even the substance, of the Bishops argu-
mont, but merely some indication Of the general
tenor of certain parts of it.
The audience enjoyed some exquisite music
from the Cathedral choir, both before and after
the lecture.