The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-29
INF LLIbILITY.
Rev. DR.. Guinan Lectures
in Newark on the Great
Catholic Doctrine.
POPE NOT EXEMPT FROM SIN.
Biblican Sources on Which
the Church Bases Her
Teaching - Among
the Churches.

the Churches.
The Rev. DR.. Guinan in st. Joseph's
Church, Newark, recently lectured on the
''Infallible Teacher" meaning the Pope.
He said
"Non-Catholics usually regard the Pope
as a dethroned ruler who still lain tenn
poral sovereignty over a portion of Italy
or as the arbiter of Christendom, making
and breaking kings, and freeing people
from their civil allegiances. Such a view
is one-sided and incomplete. The politi-
cal influence of the Popes recognized In
times past, by the consent of Nations,
and the temporal sovereignty exercised
over a portion of Italy find their cause
in the spiritual supremacy of the Pope
as divinely appointed head of Christ's
| Church.
Because the Pope was visible head of
the Church, Christendom asked him to
intervene in the disputes of peoples and
princes, and that he might enjoy perfect
freedom in the exercise of his spiritual
power, secured his temporal indepen-
dence.
Catholics in the United States know
and acknowledge but one civil allegiance,
and that is gladly given to the govern
ment under which, by Gods blessing,
they live. AS Catholics, that is to say,
as children of Christ's one only Church,
in which there is no distinction of ma
~tionality, they obey the Pope in religious
or spiritual matters and receive his Off
cial Interpretation of Gods revealed word
as infallibly true, because he is the legiti-
mate successor of al Pefarv
DR.. Guinan then explained the mean
ing of the term "infallible.H He SAID
"First-1nfallibility does not mean inn
peecability or sinlessness. The Pope con-
fesses his sins to an humble priest as
regularly as the lowliest member of his
flock. The Pope is not inspired. Inspira-
ton of the Holy Ghost made the epistles
of st. Paul truly Gods words. A dog
matte utterance of the Pope is not Gods
inspired word, but it is unerringly true.
The Holy Spirit SO guides and guards the
Pope in his official capacity of teacher of
the Universal Church as to prevent his
decision on faith or morals from being
false. The Pope receives no new revela-
tons binding on the church. AS guardian
and official interpreter of the deposit of
the once-fevealed truth he voices infaIli-
bly, Gods meaning in His revelation.
"Seeond-The Pope is not infallible as
a private person. His conversation, his
writings, his sermons are not infalIib1e.
He is administrator and legislator Of the
Universal Church and the final court of
appeal in eanonical litigation; but in exer-
cising these Offices he is not infallible.
Only, then, when the Pope is discharging
his office as teacher of the Universal
Church, when his teaching is on faith or
morals, and when he wishes to bind the
Universal Church, in virtue of his SUI
prenle teaching power, and by the assist
ance of the Holy Ghost, is he infallible.
"Why should there be. an infallible
teacher in Christ's Church? Because
Christ was in infailible teacher in His
day, the Apostles in their age, We must
have an infallible teacher in our age. The
Bible is an infaliible book. 1t needs an
infallible Interpreter. Why should the
Pope be infallible in preference to other
bishops? The Pope is bishop of Rome and
the successor of St. Peter. The visit of
St. Peter to Rome and his death there at
some uncertain date seem to us, if not
removed beyond all possibility of doubt,
yet as well established as many of the
leading facts of history CDR. Sundays
and Headlam's commentary on st. Paul.
DR.. Sunday is an oxford professor.)
Now, why did Peter go to Rome and
locate there? II ever the Prince of the
Apostles set foot in the Eternal City he
certainly did not go as a simple travel
er. but in virtue of his apostolic power;
and his martyrdom in that case forms
but the glorious ending of his official Ia
- A. ~ : oe ,a,,~r
Protestants also hold, the Epfscorate is
of Divine institution, then the claim of
the Roman Church to trace her episco-
pate succession back to Peter is. after
all, not so very absurd (Ldpsius, Ger
man critics..
Did Christ make ST. Peter the SUI
preme and infallible head of his church?
All students of the Bible admit that
Christ gave ST. Peter some sort of a pre-
enlinence over the Apostles. Ample evil
denee is found in the Gospels and the
Acts. But in places we a evidence
Of an authoritative and infaIlible suprem-
acy; Matthew xxi, 1920: Thou are Peter
and on this rock I will build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.
TN Syro-ChaIdaic, the language of
Christ, there but one word for Peter
and ~rock-Kepho. Attention fixed on the
pronoun "this," forces the conclusion
that the rock on which Christ will build
his church is Peter. He'll will never pre-
vail against the church-that is to say,
error will never prevail in the church, be-
cause of It's foundation the rock-Peter.
Hence Peter will be infallible. The church
will last till the end of time. So also
its foundation. So also Peter in his sue
cessor the Pope.
Luke xxi, s1-32: Simon, behold Sa-
tan hath desired to have you (pluraD tina
he might sift you (pluraD as wheat. But
1 have prayed for thee ~(singular) thai
thy faith fail not, and thou being once
converted confirm thy brethren Christ
prays alone for Peter that he fail not in
faith, viz, that he be infallible. Christ's
prayer is infallible. So also is Peter in
fallible.'"