The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-08
As Defined BY the Rev
Father Treiber.
He HAS LIMITATIONS
And May Sin Like an Ordinary
Mortal But His Rulings
Are Final and Ir-
revoca BILE.

Canton and Massillon branches of
the Catholic Order of Foresters at
tended in body the vesper services
held at o'clock Sunday evening at
St. Mary's Catholic church, the occa-
sion being the annual fraternal meet
ing of the branches in union service.
The sermon was delivered by the Rev.
Father Clement Treiber, pastor of the
church, whose theme was "Papal In
fallibility-What 1t Does Not Mean and
What 1t Does Mean"
In his discussion of the subject Rev.
Treiber said it is one in which much
misunderstanding exists in Catholic as
well as Protestant church circles. He
said it was his purpose to explain and
correct some of the wrong impressions
prevalent. He said in part:
"Papal infallibility does not mean
inspiration. The church teaches that
the apostles were inspired, but of the
popes to none but st. Peter, the apostle
and founder of the church, is accorded
that distinction.
IS NOT INFALLIBLE.
Secondly, it does not mean impec-
cability or exemption from liability to
commit sin. The pope does not cease
to be man when he becomes the pope.
He is still a human being, frail and
fallible and does commit sin. By
the fact that he is raised to the papal
position he does not become a super
human being SO that he can no longer
break the ten commandments or fall
into sin.
Divine assistance is guaranteed to
the pope, not in his private capacity
as teacher but belongs to his official
capacity when as the head of the
church he pronounces judgment upon
questions of faith and morals.
"The Catholic church teaches and
holds that this assistance does not ex-
tend beyond the region of faith and
morals that Is. beyond that which man
NUT believe and what he must do to
be saved.
1.-THE papal infallibility does not in
any way, shape or form trespass on
civil authority because the pope's jur-
isdiction deals solely and simply with
spiritual matters, faith and morals,
while the duty Of the state Is to pro-
vide for the temporal welfare Of its
subjects.
WHAT 1T DOES MEAN.
"Papal infallibility does mean that
the pope as the successor of St. Peter.
prince of the apostles, by virtue Of the
promises of Christ, is preserved from
error Of judgment when he promul-
gates or defines to the whole church a
doctrine which hinges on faith or
morals.
"The pope does not make divine law,
he only expounds It, Neither can he
Mt anytime become the author of rev.
elations, but he is simply the inter-
prefer of divine revelations, which
came from God through His inspired
ministers, the apostles, and were COM
plete when Christ ascended into
heaven. The pope has no authority
whatever to break one iota OF scrip
ture He is but the servant Of divine
law"
The papal position was compared by
the speaker to that Of the position of
the chief justice of the United States.
who adjudicates all questions of state
and whose decisions are final, ire
vocable and practically infallible.
$50" said Father Treiber. when dis
putes concerning QUESTION: of scripture
arise In the church they are referred
to the pope, who calls about him his