The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-25
Cardinals and Papal Infallibility.

There seems to be much misconception,
even in quarters presumably well informed,
concerning the nature Of the infallibility
attributed to the official or er cdthedra
utterances Of the Pope by the Vatican Coun-
oil. There is no excuse for the mlsunder-
standing, seeing that the doctrine has stood
before the world as a cardinal dogma Of the
Catholic faith for the last thirty years.
Nevertheless, DR.. BARDsLEY, the Anglican
Bishop OF Carlisle, said the other day in an
address that "since the declaration OF
papal iniallibility. the Pope would not seem
to require such consultative body as the
College Of Cardinals"
This assertion Is made the text OF long
article in the London Tablet, which Is we'll
known to be the organ OF Cardinal
VAUGHAN. The writer admits that IL the
Vatican Council had declared that tho
Pope, when he speaks er cathedra, is in
fallible because he Is inspired by the Holy
Ghost, then, indeed, as far as such de-
cisions should be concerned, he would have
little need OF Cardinals, Councils or con-
sultation. He would then be simply sort
Of oracle. and would only have to put him
self into the required condition, and to
In order to arrive without further
trouble at an unerring decision. That,
however Is not in the least what the
Catholic Church understands by Papal
infallibility. When the Vatican Council
defined the term, it avoided the word
inspiration" and used the word assist
ance." The ideas represented by the two
words differ as essentially as to be lifted
bodily to a height differs from being merely
kept from falling while one climbs to it..
Inspiration, by which the Pope would be
informed through the influx OF the Holy
Spirit what he should decide. would be one
thing; quite another would be the pre-
ventive assistance Of the Holy Ghost by
which the Pope should be left to find out
the truth by such ordinary means as are
available. but should be safeguarded from
falling into error in doing 80.
The Tablet would compare inspiration to
the action Of mother who should carry
her child in her arms to given point, so
that he would need to expend no labor in
reaching it; 1t would liken assistance, on
the other hand, to the action OF mother
who should place her child on the ground
and encourage him to walk to given point,
merely keeping her hands in readiness
to prevent him from falling on his way
thither. Inspiration, In other words, is
a vehicle which carries man across
a bridge, while assistance leaves him
to walk across the bridge himself, but
puts parapet on each side to shield him
from falling into the river in SO doing.
Between inspiration and assistance, thus
defined, there is obviously, all the differ.
ence which exists between a divine act and
human act divinely safeguarded, a differ.
ence which includes the very field Of human
investigation and consultation which the
Bishop Of Carlisle supposed to have been
rendered needless.
1t is pointed out by the Tablet that the
precise meaning OF the doctrine of papal
infallibillty was set forth in the report
made to the Vatican Council by the com
mission which drew up the decree Speak,
ing of tho cooperation of the Church Nttl
the Supreme Pontlff in his infallble decis
ions, the Court says: 1--WE certainly do not
separate the Pope, when he defines in
fallibility, from the cooperation and helT
of the Church" And again: 1--WE do not
exclude the cooperation of the Church, fol
the infallibility which pertains to the Roman
Pontitf is given to him, not by way of in
SEPARATION ct revelation, but by way Of diyin,