The Eddy current., 1898-06-25
papalInfaillblilty.

Astie Catholic doctrine on The in'
fallibil OF Che Pope is oftcntimos so
rcdlcuously msrepresenied by those
ignorant OF Catholic teachings, ] con.
slider II my duty to give brief aud
correct exposition Of this doctrine.
The Cathoac church teaches, that
the popc.when he speak sex cathedra,
/. e. oiicially, as head and teacher Of
the universal church, on matters OF
dogma or moral, TO be held and belle
we'd by the universal church, Is, by yir
tue Of the PROMISES Of Christ, lyizd'
Mnth -, 20; Jno. "a, 20 and 49, ~, etc.
preserved from error or infaillble
reason tells as that II God com
mands rs under pain Of damnation TO
hear and obey the church lie could
not allow her 10 teach what is false
or TO promulgate error. lnfellibility
then does not mean impecability, as
Il sometimes is falsely represented by
those who. profess 20 be enlightened
ministers OF the gospel-the pope
himself acknowledges 10 be sinner
and goes 10 confession every week. IL
does not mean that the pope is inspir-
ed with the spirit Of revelation or
prophecy. Thus II the pope would
forelell that the end OF the
world was TO come on certain date,
no Catholic would be obliged 10 believe
him.
infallibillty does not mean that the
pope cannot err In matters Of science
or politics. II Che pope should write
treatise on history, law or philoso.
ply ho would be exposed 90 the same
critissm that any other other learned
man would be.
The infallluility Of the pope extends
only TO his decisions given officially
on faith and morals The doctrine is
not held only by italian Catholics but
by all the catholics of the world
The solemn definition of the vati-
can council Is only setting the solemn
seal of definition upon what has al
ways been the belief and practice OF
the church.
u is this doctrine which has enabled
the church TO preserve her marvellous
unity througout the world and ages.
Without IL she would have broken up
into thousand fragments like the
sects. This doctrine" says Cardinal
Gibbons, "is the keystone In the arch
OF the Catholic faith, and far from
arousing opposition, IL ought TO com.
mand the unqualified admiration Of
every rejecting mind The infallibil.
" Of the pope IN no way trespasses.
On ciyh authority his jurisdiction be
longs 10. spiritual matters.
Yet this doe rine as many other
Catholic doctrii rs such as: lndulgen-
ce, confession, yeneration ~ the
saints etc, are e. ten so misrepreyented
by those who shunld rpeak the truth
that they appep most ridiculous and
vile In the eyes Of the credulous
hearers.
Certainly this rs not right. do not
wish 10 insnuate that this is done
through malice, hut rather through ig
norance, they know the church only
from "carieatures drawn by preju-
dice"
This however Is ist uneharltable foi
It stirrs up and keeps alive religiout
! bigotry IL Is 2nG, unchristian becaus,
intemporate. IL s 3rdly unjust, be
cause II gives sentence without hay-
ing properly examined the matter, e
judge without knowledge Is folly. II
is foolish, because they do not confirm
their assertions by arguments, bu
e simpy by sensational noise and non
sense and many d sincere protestan
las ttofDy been le1 TO examine an'
a enter the Catholic church,
u Ministers, therefore, who wish 4
( expose Catholic doctrine, should, II
justice, first without prejudice thor
oughly study the same also from th
a catholic side "audiatur et altra pars" le
the other side also be heard even ut IA
'e risk OF becoming converts.
Do IL KpspKEu