The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-20

be of private interpretation Inspired, there
fore unlnteligible! If it be SO hard to under
stand what cod says, how was the divine
Savior able to make himself understood by the
common people, who heard him gladly?
The sermon on the Mount seems to have
been understood by those who heard it.
Now, who will have lingering doubt that
there Is the widest difference between the
Catholic use of the Bible and that of the
Protestant?
Thirdly-The Roman Catholics hold to the
infallibility OF one Of their priests, whom they
call Pope.
The following is the text of the Declaration
OF lntall1bll1ty by the Catholic Council
Faithfully following out the tradition
which goes back to the beginning of our Chris
tian faith for the glory of God our Savior, the
eXaltation of the Catholic religion and the sal
walton of the nations of Christendom, we teach
and define 'Sacro approximate concilio' with
the approval OF the sacred council, that the
following dogma has been divinely revealed :
THAT the Roman Pontiff, when speaking
'ex cathedra'-that is to say when in his Office
OF pastor and teacher of all Christians and by
virtue OF his supreme apostolic authority he
declares that doctrine on faith or morals
ought TO be held by the universal church-is in
full possession by the divine assistance which
has been promised him as the successor of thu
blessed Peter, of that infallibility which the
Divine Redeemer willed, should dwell in his
church whenever it declares its doctrine of
faith or OF morals and conSeq uentiy that such
declarations by the Roman Pontiff are in
themselves and not by virtue of the consent of
the church, incapable of any emendation And
If any one-which God forbid-should yentu re
to contravene this, our declaration, let him be
anathema"
The following protest against the adoption
OF the dogma of infallibility was sent in by
many Bishops:
''Most blessed father: In the general con-
gregatlon held here on the 18th day of this
month we gave our votes on the schemata OF
the first dogmatic constitution concerning the
church of Christ. 1t is well known to- your
Holiness that there were lightweight fathers,
who, being moved by their own consciences
and love OF holy church, gave their votes in
the words non placet' (No); sixty-two others
who voted 'placet, juxta MEDIUM CYes, but
with necessary amendments), and about
seventy more who were absent from the con-
gregation and abstained from voting at all
To these may be added others who had re-
turned to their dioceses in consequence of
their lntrmitieS or other weighty rea-
sons sn
From this strong protest on the part of a.
large number of the members of the council it
is evident that the adoption of the infallibiIity
dogma was far from being unanimous though
1t is well known that afterward, as always in
such cases, the minority were compelled to
succumb and accept as true what they believed
TO be false, and which by their vote they had
pronounced untrue.
Fourth-ProteSt antism and Cathol icism hold
opposite views concerning the priesthood
Fifth-The Catholic church holds to the doc
trlne OF transnbstantiation; that in the admin
lstratlon of the sacrament the bread and wine
are actually changed and converted into the
real body and blood of Christ. This Pedestrians
deny, and array against it the physical impos-
a,a N
It's unreasonableness. The difference between
Catholicism and Professionalism at this point is
as wide as the world.
Slxth-The Catholic church holds to the
dogma of oracular comics sion. Protestants
hold that this dogma is unreasonable, unscrip-
tural and wicked.
Seyenth--The Catholic church holds to seven
saeraments. The Protestant church believes
there are but two sacraments.
Elghth--Catholicsh hold to the dogma of pur-
gatory: Protestants deny it.
Nlnth-The Catholics believe in prayers for
the dead Protestants believe that such,pray-
ers are unavailing.
Tenth-CathoIics believe the civil authority
should be subject to the ecclesiastical. Prot
estants believe the reverse of this.
EleVenth-The Catholics give the sacrament
10 Inc people OF one kind only. They withhold
the cup from the laity. Protestants administer
the bread and wine to the whole church.
IWeiIth - Catholics give alteration to the
virgin Mary. Protestants call this idolatry
Ihlrteenth-The Catholics worship images
PTotestants strongly condemn this practice
Fourteenth-Catholics vest all their property
IN the priesthood. The Protestant practice is
the reverse of this.
Fifteenth-The Catholics hold to the celibaev
OF the clergy. Protestants believe that the
clergy may and ought to marry.
elXteenth-Catholics believe in the canoniza-
ton of saints. Protestants do not so believe.
Seventeenth-The Catholics offer prayer to
SAINTS. Protestants regard this practice as
idelatrous.
Many other points of difference might be
presented had we time to consider them, show
ing That the difference between Roman Cathol-
lclsm ana professionalism is heaven wide.