The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-07
THE PAULIST MISSION.

The mlssion conducted by Father Burke at
st Jose, h's Chapel. was we'll attended. One
or the most INTEREST," q features Of the mis.
soa was the z lesuon Box great many
que'tions were answered 10 an intelligent
Usnuer oy Father Burke We print below
bis remarks 10 reference to the infallibity of
ihe Pope: also as 10 why be was a Catholic !:
"Does be infalibility of the Pope mean
that be cannot commit sin? p Father Burke
replied 10 substance as follows:
Such question could arise only from a
mistaken notion Of what is the Catholic doc.
trine OF infai!ibiiity. 10 the 6rst place let
ms tell you what it is not. Wien we say The
pope is infalliae we do not mean that he ls
imDeccable We do OF maau that be cannot
commit Sin 1t would be lst as reason bic
to say that Judge OF the supreme court. in
virtue OF his flee, could moi, In bis private
life, be guilty of breach of the Law as to
say that the pope. because be IL lnfaliible,
cannot commit sin. What, then, is nfall
biity ? LIE; US come TO it 10 this way Sup.
pose you happened to be travelling 10 Rome
and you met the pope You asked him some
question about belief or moral conduct He
answered you. Would bis word be iofalli.
ole Z No, it would not. Suppose again, you
went to st Peters and heard the pope preach
upon some point OF faith or morals, would
his utterance be infallibe &? No, it would
not. Suppose the poEe wrote letter to you,
or wrote book, would the opinions or be.
Ilefs there set down be his infallible decisions? /?
No, they would not
Again, suppose you were to ask the Poo tiff
nis opinion. let Us say, about South African
politics, or about bimetsllism, or any other
question, would not the Pope's words on
any OF these points De iufsllible Most assur-
ediy Dot. The infalliblity of the Pope does
not, therefore, msao that be is inspired as
Holy Scripture is inspired, or that he can re-.
ceiVe or give to men new doctrine other
than those taught by Christ and His apostles:
it does uot mean that he can decide matters of
science or fact entirely Independent of doc.
trine; it does DOT mean that be cannot err
when be writes or talks or breaches on mat.
ters Of religion
The Pope is infalble only wheu, as a
teacher OF the whoe church, be pronounces
that certain doctrine of faith or morality
is contained 10 the deposit of faith "
"Why | am a Catholic " The discourse
dealt with the fundamental reasons whv
Catholic sees n h:s church the means of
salvation. 10 one portion, dwelling upon
the necessity Of a living, infallibe teacher,
Father Burke said:
"UnparsileIed ss the >Bible.;s as written
work. divlnely inspired as no other word is.
the object of the deepest reverence Of ali
Catholics, there is one thing which it is not
and canno, tie. that is the sole guide to our
faith
Jesus Christ did not leave one single docu.
ment behind him. Christianity existed for
nearly ten ears before the first word of the
New Testament was written; it existed for
nearly sixty years before the last book was
written; ii existed for nearly. four hundred
years before the Canon of the Scriptures was
fixed. 1t existed for nearly fifteen hundred
years before tn. invention Of printing, up to
Which time it was impossible to epread the
written word sufficiently to make it the
teacher Of men. We must have uother guide
to religions trlth therefore. and that we End
In living. infalible Church, divipeIy guided
to lead men, and when necessary 10 inter.
pret The Scriptures themselves"