The San Francisco call., 1896-01-10
THE POPE'S SUPREMACY.
w. n. Bowman Says That History
Has Repudiated the Temporal
Authority of the Vatican

W. H. Bowman, editor OF the American
Patriot, con tributes the following paper to
the famous Yorke-Ross controversy:
To the Editor Of the san Francisco Call-sIR:
1t Is an indisputab.e fact of history that from
the middle OF the fifth century up to the time
OF the Reformation the assumption of the
universal supremacy OF the Pope, spiritual and
temporal, on one side, and the absolute
obedience TO the Pope OF all men. kings and
people, on the other, had been toe fundamental
principle OF the Papacy. BY forged decretals
Papal bulls, briefs, canons ana interiicts the
false claim TO universal sovereignty was cstah-
lished. The spurious character OF the Pope's
utle to temporal power has been exposed by
the ablest Catholic authors and rejected with
impatient contempt by history.
The absurd attempts OF popes and priests TO
establish a human title TO the temporal pos
sessions OF the papacy is made manifest by the
fact that II the apostolic chair of ST. Peter were
endowed with divine title TO universal tenn
porai sovereignty,a a human title would be
perfiuous. Regarding supremacyto the Pope
as the main substance of Christianity and obe-
dience TO his will as necessary to salvation
they have formed an organization based strictly
upon monarchial principles, skillfully adapted
10 secure unity and concentration of action,
and by harmOnizing their doctrines with the
claim 10 temporal and spiritual power, they
have managed 20 uSurp the power OF princes
and hold the nations under subsection to the
Pope. We submit II few OF the absurd claims
of the Popes 10 temporal power. that the
reader may be convinced OF the business OF the
A I. +. opposition 10 Romanism.
lhS ', our IflEIlflS rope, IL prince over ali
nations and kingdoms, and ne has power to
pluck up, scatter, plant ruin and build."-
Canon OF the Council of Trent.
''All mortalo are Judged by the Pope, and the
Pope by nobody. ."-Lateran Canon.
"The Pope is supreme over ali the world;
may impose taxes and destroy crowns and
castles tor the preservation OF Christianity
St. Thomas Aquines.
The supremacy OF the Pope over all persons
and things is the main substance OF Christian
ity."-Bellamine.
The Pope has supreme power over kings
and Christian princes; he may remove them
from office, and in their place put others."-
BIoYius, De Rom. Pontiff, cap. 46, p. 80.
"The Pope is the lord OF the whole world
The Pope has temporal power; his temporal
power is most eminent. All other powers de-
pend upon the Pope. ."-Marcinus, ,Jure Princep
Rom. lib. 2, cap. /, 2.
tine Pope is the only Vicar of God, who has
supreme power and emnire over all princes
and kings OF the earth h."-Blarens De Rom
Eccl., art. V, sec. 10.
HE (the Pope) can correct the laws of States
and alter them altogether and, by the pleni-
tude OF his power, since he is above all law
dispense from every aW."-POpe Nicholas l.
A ID. 85S. [Quoted four times in the Canon
Law OF Rome. Causa N quest. cap. Cuncta
per muudum.l
Pope Nicholas J. in 858 A. D., also decreed
three principles, which are corollaries 10 the
fundamental principle OF papal supremacy,
namely: /. There may always be an appeal
TO the Pope from the judgments and DEGREES of
kings and their courts of justice, but no appeal
from any ecclesiaS tical sentence to a king or
canonists: The Pope may reopen the indR-
ment of every Judge and ruler. but no one
may review a decision OF the Pope >" The fol-
lowing was the decree OF Pope Nicholas / 1t is
called "Distinctto SO, cap. Satis": 1T has
been sufficiently proved that n Pope can
neither be bound nor acquitted by a secular
power, for the Pope, is well known was
called God by that pious Emperor, Constantine
and 1t is very clear that God cannot be Judged
by men," That being part of the canon law
OF Rome is a matter of 1aith with all Roman
lists
.. All clercs, even to the lowest grade are
exempted from the jurisdiction OF ell civil
secural taxes. Pope Innocent III, in 1918, re-
newed this decree in the Lateran Council.
hume, the English historian, srys: "The ec-
cIeslastlcs in that age days OF Thomas BeckrD
hac renounced all subordination 10 the magis-
trate They openly pretended to an eXemp-
non, IN criminal accusations, from tri al be-
iore the courts OF Justice, ana were gradually
introducing ike exemption in civil causes
d. Inc rope may depoSe kings, and absolve
SUBJECTS from their oath OF allegiance, ard
may give away their kingdoms TO whomsoeyer
ne may choose. That principle is asserted in
tne uecretai letter OF Nicholas ] TO the Emperor
Michael.
That the Popes have acted upon this prin-
clgle all history abundantly testiiies
Inc following extracts from the canon law
oi kome are taken from "Cranmer's Collection
OF Ienets Extracted from the Canon Law
(Parker Soelety's edition of the Archbishop's
works.: >
The laws Of kings have not pre-eminepce over