The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-05
Of the STATE either know It nor OIL

OF the State either know It nor or
wickedly eliminate IT,
"As no true and perfect human So
ciety can be conceived which Is not gov
eIned by some supreme authority. so
Christ Of necessity gave TO His Church
a supreme authority, to which all Chris
tians must be obedent. For the preser-
walton of unity there must be unity OF
government, jure divine, and men may be
placed outside the one fold by schism as
well as by heresy.
"The nature of this supreme authority
can be esccrained from the positive ana
evident will of Christ on the matter.
AS He willed that His kingdom should
be visible, Christ was obliged TO Designate
a vice-gefent on earth in the person OF ST.
Peter. He also determined that the au-
thOrty given TO him for the salvation OF
mankind in perpetuity should be inherited
by st. Peters successors.
LAS the governing authority belongs 10
the constitution and formation OF the
Church as the very principle OF unity and,
stability, II was clearly intended TO pass
to ST. Peters successors from one TO
another. Cons equently the pontiffs who
succeeded him in the Roman eplscopata
receive the supreme power IN the Cnurch
lure divinc. and this is declared fully by
general councils and is acknowledged BY
tho consent of antiquity.
But though the authority Of ST. Pc
ter and his successors Is plenafy hhul
supreme ii is not to be regarded as the
only authority. Tho bishops. who are
the successors Of the Apostles. Inherit
their ordinary power, and the epiSco-
pal order necessarily belongs to the es-
sential constitution of the Church. They
are consequently not to be regarded as
mere Wears OF the Roman ponuns, since
they exercise a power which Is really
their own, and are most truly called the
ordinary pastors of the people over whom
they rule
''For the preservation of unity in tho
Christian Church II Is above all things
necessary that there should be union be-
tween tho Roman Pontiff. the one sue
cessor of st. Peter. and the bishops the
many successors of the Apostolic COL
lege. TT is necessary 10 bear in mind
that no prerogatiye was conferred on the
Apostles in which st. Peter did not par
ticipate, but that many were bestowed
upon st. Peter apart from the Apostles.
He alone was designated by Christ as the
foundation of His Church. To him lie
gave the power OF forgiving and retain
ing. and 10 him alone was given the au-
thority to feed.
deprived OF the right and power of ruling
IL they deliberately secede from Peter and
they are separated from the foundation
on which the whole edifce rets.
GAS the divine founder of the church
decreed that His Church should be one
in tdltn, IN EONcruiltlI anu NoihihNhioh,
so He chose Peter and his successors
as the principle and as IL were the cen
tire of this unity. The episcopal order is
rightly judged TO be In communion WI y
Peter as Christ commanded, If IL is sui !
iect TO and obeys Peter. otherwise :, II
necessarily becomes a lawless and dis
orderly crowd.
.sHoiy Writ attests that the keys cf
the kingdom of heaven were given 10
Peter alone and that the promise Of
binding and loosing was granted 20 the
Apostles and 10 Peter. but there is Meth
ing TO show that. the Apostles received
Peter Such power they certainly did
not receive from Jesus Christ Wherefore
in the decree of the Vatican Council as
10 the nature and authority OF the prima-
CIV of the Roman Pontiff no newly con-
ceived opinion is set forth. but the vener-
able and constant belief OF all ages"