The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-02-24
THE TRIPLE BOND.
Continued from First Page.

sss Continued from First Page.
States has clearly drawn the line OF de
narration between the spiritual and the
temporal--the church and the state.
Who 80 says that the spiritual obedience
to the Roman Pontif implies lack Of
loyalty to ones country knows not the
teaching of Catholic theology. Our
theologians teach that we owe flial OBJ
legation to our country-an obligation
arising from the virtue OF piety and OF
the same nature as that which binds US
in certain duties toward our parents.
And as the most worthy parents are the
best entitled to the highest form OF flial
affeo:ion,, so the noblest country deserves
the most heroic civic virtues in her citi-
Gems. Hence it is that fidelity to the
United States becomes work of love to
all her citizens, regardless of the altar at
which they worship.
In full view of all this we'll defined
spiritual supremacy let it be clearly
known that Catholics owe no allegiance
to Pope or prelate which can in any way
interfere with their duties as citizens.
The Roman unity is very strong, but it
is unity in spirituals, and it is in spir-
[itual matters it's strength rests. 1t was
/ this unity which moved the late Cardinal
Manning to get back to The church of Au-
justine and of Anselm rather than to
STAY in the church of Cranmer and Of
/ Burret.
The logical outcome of the spiritual
supremacy of the reigning Pontiff, Of the
acceptance Of q supernatural revelation
and of the continued emphasis laid upon
Catholic unity is the much maligned
d, ctrine of Papal infallibility. When I
think Of the bright intellects who did
not take time to understand this harm
less doctrine I have no harsh words for
the multltudee who missed it's meaning.
The Vatican council tells us when the
Pope is infallible. It says: "When in
the discharge OF the Office OF pastor and
doctor of all Christians, by virtue OF the
[supreme apostolic authority, he defines 3
doctrine concerning faith and morals to
Ebe held by the universal Church"
[ Here, then, are my limitations. In
Eone. capacity, and only in one, is the
head OF the Church saved from error.
This is in the capacity Of teacher of the
whole Church. He is not inspired; he IS
merely assisted. He receives such heav-
emily assistance as saves him from falsify-
ing the doctrines of the Church in mat
tiers Of faith and morals. Infallibility is
still further restricted to the compare
lively narrow sphere Of faith and morals
It does not imply freedom from error in
politics, or in economics, or in philoso-
ply, or in science, or in history. Ex-
cept faith and morals it excludes every
thing. InfallibilitY does not extend
even.to moral actions.
What mean is this: The Sovereign
Pontif ia ,intallible in his judgment
about moral principles, but not in his
judgment as: to the application of these
principles. The Pope may issue all the
briefsand bnlIs and encyclicals he pleases
in his unofficial capacity, or regarding
matters outside the domain of faith
and morals, or as not teaching the whole
Church, and such documents would not
carry with them the authority of infall;-
:bility. Not till after the most searching
examination, when many learned judges
are heard and ell official witnesses are
lintened to, does the Catholic Church
make truth the formal object of faith
binding upon her children. So limited
is the scope OF infallibility, and so safe
guarded is it with precautions, that it is
not easy to see how the head of the
Church could make q mis-: AXE, even
apart altogether from divine protection.