The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-03-05
rHE LIZZIE cArEcHIsN
ON THE INPALLIBILIrY OF TEE SOVEREIGN
PoNTTPF. DESIGNED TO AID IN THE CON
PREHENsIoN OF TIE DOGMA.


PREHENsIoN OF THE DOGMA.
(ConolEded from last week
III.
wHAT ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND BY INFAL-
LIBILITY IN MATTERS OF FAITH AND MO-
RAILS.
/. 8honld now like to kRosc more pre-
cisely in rbat matters the Pope is infaliitte
As has been already said he is infallible
same manper in which it has always
been said that the Church is infallible in her
teaching as to faith aud morals, in precisely
the eame sense do We say that the Pope Ia
infallible.
2. Tes, but in using terms of so sride a
signi fcdtioB as y" faith" and " morals" does
not one run the risk Of so far ertonding the
intallibility Of the Pope and the Church as
t0 carry it beyond its proper sphere3
That assistance of the Holy Spirit which
produces infallibiiity, will also render IL
impossible that it should ever stray beyond
it's proper ephere, which would Indeed be
the greatest Of errors. What kind of infal-
libility would that be which could be 60 far
mistaken as to decide more than it ought
to decide9 What sort of an infallible doc
tor would he be who should be unable to
discern the subjects to which his compe-
tency extended from those which lay not
within its limits, or who, discerning 1t,
still should arrogate to himself an author
ity he did not possess
The teaching of the Church has always
kept within the limits of faith and morals
here fact could never be opposed to right.
8. Let us see hotc the Church and the
Popes hare understood and exercised this
diuine authority in their tsachin0s
Their teaching has embraced everything
that We ought to believe or practice to
gain eternal life. First of all, the ar.i-
cles of faith are expressly revealed then
are explained those truths which are more
or less connected with Christian faith and
morality and, consequently, with eternal
salvation. Thus, then, both in fact and in
right, it belongs to the doctrihal authority
of the Church or of the Pope (for they are
one and the same), to condemn not only
declared heresies, but also such errors as
regard mere or less faith and morality. Con-
| sequently this authority can condemn
| books, propositions, opinions which would
pass for scientific, educational maxims,
| political principles, etc, in opposition to
faith and morality it can reprOve as illi-
cit or immoral certain sects or societies,
and, on the contrary, approve as good and
| piouS certain religious orders; it can
judge of the reality of the virtues of indi-
| viduals and canQnize saints it can admit
or reject certain doctrines which touch the
| general welfare, the rights or discipline of
the Church of Jesus Christ.
All this has direct connection with the
faith and morals, and consequently falls
under the infallible authority of the Church
or OF the Pope.
4. But ache is it that so explains this au
thority as to Siue it so ride range?
The Church herself, by her acts. Is it
not certain that the Church, and the Popes,
have believed themselves authorized to pro
nounce upon all these subjects judgment
of infallible truth, and. consequently, ar
irrefragble sentence which demands the
submission of all the faithful II the Popt
have defined any matter, in his characte
of universal master of the Church thel
the Pope spoke aided by the Hol,
Spirit; therefore he could not have exceed
ed the limits of his authority the point
which be defined all have some copnectio
with revealed truths, with faith or wit
morals.
5. But there may be some arho do not Sc
this connection
If there be any one who fails to see thi
: relation, which is, nevertheless, easy
!, discern, let him attribute the fault to tn
. weakness of his Judgment, not to the Pop
: Otherwise the reproach would fall on til
Holy Spirit, who had not rightly guide
= the Pope! Far from saying the POP
= speaks Of what does not concern him, +
= they do speak on matters of which the
a know nothing. How many ignorant pee
5 pie at the present day talk theology ar
= pretend to teach the Pope himself.
le &. 1t ,rOuld seem, though, that the Po
J. arishes to encrodch upon the free soil
n science and reason. In such a case tcOu
es he not expose hinasslfto the danger Of strikir
N into a false path and falling into error?
- It is rather science and reason, that, il
IN truding into the domain of religion, fai
8, and morals, stumble against some one
a. other of the dogmas of the Church. Th,
the Pope cries: Back, rash intruder
withdraw Therefore, in condemning Il
of errors of reason and pretended science,
ne remains at his post on the ground of reli
T. ion.
g. z. But ,Uhat is said of the Pope enteri
q, into the domain Of politics, und0r the p,
I'd tert of exercising his in5allible authority
Id not the political trorld Independent?
IT. Independent even of God, morality,
he justicef Such political domain would
ys extraordinary indeed The Pope exercis,
~ with regard to patioHs and government
be the same rights as with regard to indivi
gs uals he can teach them morality, conCier