The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-08

3. This message was given by Christ to his
disciples, with authority to teach 1t to all men
and throughout all time.
4. Hence, this authority belongs to the discl-
pies in their corporate capacity; hence this
corporation is lnfallible.
5. Our Lord constituted st. Peter the ruler OF
this corporation or society.
q. The Pope is the successor of st. Peter as
the head OF this society, TO which was given
the mission of teaching revelation.
! will now consider the powers OF the Pope,
and from this consideration show that there IS
nothing in these powers which lntertereS with
CIVIL allegiance.
THE POWERS OF THE POPE.
l. The Pope as the successor OF ST. Peter holds
the supreme authority in that society organized
by Christ to teach his revelation.
2. In every society the supreme authority
implies supreme legislative, executive and
judicial powers. These powers may be lodged
in different persons or in the one person.
8. The supreme legislative, executive and
judicial powers in the church are centered In
the Pope.
4. Supreme power does not mean absolute or
arbitrary power. In America neither the
President, Congress, nor the supreme Court
possesses arbitrary power, though each pos
sesses supreme power. Their powers are
limited by the constitution OF the United
States
5. The Pope possesses in the church supreme
legislative, executive and judicial power, but
this power is limited by the constitution OF the
church.
s. Hence the Pope cannot pass law violating
or repeating a law OF God or law of Christ.
He cannot declare that perjury is lawful, or
that stealing is not SINFUL or that murder is to
be commended
7. Hence in his executive action he cannot
interfere with the organization of the church.
or abolish bishops or dispense with priests, or
add 10 or take from the sacraments.
8. Hence in his Judicial action he cannot
ada 10 or take away from divine revelation,
he cannot make new constitutional provisions
or destroy old ones; he cannot invent doc
trines neither can he suppress them.
1.-THE 1NFALLIBILITY OF THE POPE.
l. The end for which Christ established his
church was 10 teach his revelation.
2. 1t is but natural that in the course of time
disputes should arise about doctrines some
men saying that Christ revealed them, others
that he did not.
3. These disputes are exactly parallel TO
those that arise among our lawyers concern
ing the constitutlonahty OF certain enact
mentS.
4. In the state the dispute is whether the pro-
visions of the act are in accordance with the
provisions of the constitution. In the church
the dispute is whether the terms OF the doc
trine are in accordance with the revelation.
5. In the state the Supreme Court pronOunces
finally on the dispute; in the church the Pope
pronounces finally on the dispute.
6. The Pope's decision declares that the
terms OF such doctrine are or are not in &C
cordance with revelation. Such decision is
final and must be accepted by all.
7. Since revelation is truth the Pope's de-
cision declares that certain doctrine is true
or false, and this decision binds upon all the
members OF the church.
.. A ueClSlOn COuCSTUlIlB truth OF lAlSSnOOQ,
which binds men by divine authority, must be
an infallible decision, because otherwise God,
who cannot lie, would be made TO stand
sponsor to error.
g. Hence, the final decision of the Pope must
be infallible, because otherwise the rock would
have been taken by the gates of hell, and be-
cause otherwise the very power which Christ
established to feed his sheep would have given
them poison.
uI-THE LIMITS OF AVAILABILITY.
l. Infallibility does not mean freedom
from sin. David and Solomon were very
wicked men, yet their teachings are infal-
lible.
2. Infallibility does not mean that the Pope
can deal with matters outside of revelation.
He has nothing to do with civil affairs, moth
ing to do with scientific truths. The question
before him is the question If fact has this dog
trine been revealed by Jesus Christ, or do these
words or facts agree or disagree with revela-
ton.
3. Infallibility does not mean that the Pope
is always at all times and under all circum-
stances infallible. Supreme Justice is not
rendering decisions when writing a lawbook
or talking with his friends The Pope is infal-
| lible only when he acts as the supreme court
/ OF Christendom and declares as the teacher of
| all the faithful that q certain doctrine has or
has not been revealed by Jesus Christ.
4 1t is hardly necessary to remark that when
! acting as supreme judge in individual cases
| dealing with questions of law or fact, the de-
! clslon OF the Pope is final, but not infallible.
5. 1t is hardly necessary to remark that, in
making or repeating laws, the Pope's action is
/ legal and to be obeyed, but is not infallible.
| g. 1t is hardly necessary to remark that
while his various executive actions are to be
received with respect or obedience, they are
not infallible.
Iv-INFALLIBILITY AND CIVIL ALLEGIANCE.
1. Civil allegiance is the obedience we owe
| the constituted authorities OF the state.
2. The state is absolutely Independent OF the
church in civil affairs. The church is abso-
lutely independent of the state in religious
/ affairs.
g. The infaIlibility of the Pope deals ex-
| cln siv civ with religions off al IN vui+ bo
\ question whether such or such truths are re-
! Vealed or not.
d. Therefore, the infaIlibility of the Pope can
| in no way clash with civil allegiance or with
the duties the citizen owes the state.
v-THE POPE AND CONSCIENCE.
/. Conscience is the law of God as it appears
! TO our mind here and now. 1t is our Judgment
declaring that this present act is GOOD and
| should be done, or evil and should be avoided.
2. Hence, collision between conscience and
the Pope is possible only when he legiSlates or
gives particular orders, or the like
3. But the Pope is not infalIlble in his laws
or in his commands, or in his acts OF state
or in his administration, in his public
policy.
A. Therefore there can be no collision be-
tween conscience and infallibilfty.
5. Hence the fact that ST. Paul withstood
st. Peter to his face proves nothing against
infallibility.
g. Hence the doctrine of infallibility would
not prevent any Catholic from withstandiug
the Pope to-day if he considered his policy
pernicious. his policy unwise or his comma nds
unreasonable.
z. Self-will and rebellion and disobedience
are sins against the state well as against
the church, and the man who withstands the
Pope for these reasons sins not against the in
falibility of the Pope but against his author
ity as ruler of the church.
8. But If Catholics believe that the Pope is
using his power to evil purpose they are
bound to resist him. Bellarmine says: ait is
lawful to resist the Pope if he assaults souls or
troubles the state. (On the Pope, ii :29). Arch
bishop Kenr1ck says: "Tne Pope's power is
given for edification not for destruction. If he
uses 1t from the love of domination scarcely
will he meet with obedient populations"
(Moral Theol., vol. l, p. 1859
9. The decision as 10 whether the Pope is in
each particular case doing right or wrong
rests in the last resort with each ones con-
science. Conscience does not mean self-wil
1t means that light is sought for. that counsel
is taken, that in the presence OF God each one
can say, believe am right.
10. If the decision is against the Pope. then