Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-09-13

$500.
peared
Finally, no decree of any pope has been
contradicted by successor, when it WAS
delivered "ex-cathedra," as infallibility
requires.
II one should say "All this is very well
when applied to the case of st. Peter, the
apostle. We are willing to admit 1t in his
case, but We decidedly deny it to his sue
cessors." To this we answer that the
objection seems trifiing. II they are His
which distinguished Him among men.
His powers were granted because they
were needed; and they are needed to-day
as much as ever. Then the Lords
promises are not fulfilled till "the end Of
time" The whole Catholic church has
ever conceded His claims; and only in
the last few centuries has any Christian
thought OF denying them.
SIXTH QUESTION.
Now then, what are the limitations of
infallibility? The limitations OF infalli-
bility in general are found in the com
pletion OF the object for which it exists.
As religion is made complete by true
faith and Just line OF action according
to Gods will it follows that the limita
tions OF infallibility in religion are found
in the completion of faith and morals.
And as the papal office is made complete
in the performance of the duty for which
that office was created; it follows that
the limitations of papal infallibility are
found in the performance of the special
duty for which that Office was created.
The pope, then, is infallible as pope, and
only so. In other words, when the pope,
speaking as the spiritual ruler of the
universal church on earth. to all his sub
jects, defines a spiritual matter ii. e., a
matter of faith or of moralsj demand
ing the obedient assent of ALL he is then,
and only then, held to be infallible.
bro h inn rod tor r,ol in.
fallibility. LIST. That the pope speak in
this official capacity, q. e., ex-eat hedra);
I'd. That he decision, or declaration, be
of faith or Of morals; Sd. That it affect
the whole church. Hence it does not
imply, that whatever the pope says or
writes as private individual, or in any
other combination of conditions, not
considered above, is necessarily without
flaw. And it is ridiculous to suppose
that it implies any incapacity on his part
towards sin. He is nfallible as pope, be-
cause the good OF the human race re-
quires it, not because of any special merit
on his part.
1t must not, however, be supposed that
the pope claims any power to add any
new truth to what the Christian religion
already enjoys. No Catholic dreams Of
such thing; for that deposit is complete.
What then, about the dogmas which We
hear are formulated from time to time!
A dogma is an official declaration OF the
truth, already held by The faithful 1t is
thus precisely that infallibility has play
There is no need OF any official declara-
ton or decision, until a.certsin truth is
called into question. Then the matter is
thoroughly sifted, the pope decides what
is OF faith, and the question Is settled for
all time. 1t is then called a dogma, that
is an infallible truth.
Some sort of analogy to this is found in
the action of our supreme court. \ civil
law is certain, but there is doubt OF its
application in special matter. The
affair is laid before the bench. The su
preme judge decides and his decision be-
comes a civil dogma, to speak. The
decision is quoted laW itself. Yet
had the same judge written book on
Law in " hich he took occasion 10 render
/ he same, or a similar decision, that would
not be quoted as law. but As the opinion
OF a private individual. Indeed, il un-
derstand the matter right, the judge Is
not bound by his own book. For all prac
tical purposes, the court is As if nfailible.
II in material things intallibility is
desira bic, how much more in spirit
uaI? Absolutely speaking, we cannot
confer that quality on our Judges; and
yet we attempt il, We reach to towards it
As perfection to be desired But the
Lord can confer that quality. Is it not
perfection to be desired for religious de-
Clsions? And If so, can We suppose for
q moment, that the wise founder OF our
church could have left it without a per
feet ion that il desirable and so desirable?
We cannot admit it.
EXAMINED FROM A PROTESTANT POINT
OF VIEW.
We will now consider the Protestant
standpoint. The Protestant avows belief
in his church. II his belief is valuable,
ii amounts to this: Il am certain my
church is right. God is with it What
are the grounds of his certainty? Three
words describe them-reason, scripture,
character God gave me reason to test
all things. He gave me holy scripture
that by the exercise of reason, / might
recognize Himself and His WILL therein.
The character OF those who agree with
me- is proof that am right, for Protest
antism developes men OF the high type
Of character.
Now let us examine this position. 1t
all may be reduced TO reason. Then let
reason be its mirror. All men necessarily
though not, it must be admitted,
with an equal degree of effect. Still all
do reason. Man cannot help but reason,
save when the mind is diseased, for the
definition of man is not complete il it be
not said that he is reasoning being.
And as a reasoning being, 1t naturally
follows, that the more important the OBJ
ject, SO much the stronger the impulse to
reason. Well, Catholics are men as well
as their fellows, and they surely regard re-
lSloh the hlShest, the strongest Impulse
to reason. Therefore, they not only do
use reason in the matter, but use it most
effectively, each according to his power
Now what is the result? All Catholics
agree, Professionals disagree. Please put
to yourself this question-whichp party is
il more reasonable to suppose is right?
Now answer that question for your own
sat isfactiOn, and be sure you answer it
with reason.
SCRIPTURE. Here, they say, reason
should be judge. Very WELL let reason
take the chair. The Protestant plan is
for each man to search the scriptures"
and let them guide him. The meaning
of the holy writing for each one is what
he honestly and conscientiously con-
ceives TO be the sense intended. There is
no question of lack of ability or other
defect i'll the reader. Com
may be Of much use, but they
control his Interpretation.
The Catholic plan seems to me to be
more logical, if not more concise. Let