The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-10-12
CATHOLIC MISSION
More Interesting Subjects Discussed.

Thursday evening a large audience
attended the mission for non-Catholics
at st. Mary's church. The lecture by
Father Rankin was on "Purgatory or
prayers for the dead.
Several interesting questions were
answered by Father Waters, one of
which was about the infallibility Of the
Pope. Some people, said the speaker,
enormously think that Catholics imagine
the Pope cannot commit sin. But this
is far from the Catholic conception of
papal infallibility. Others declare that
Catholics are bound TO accept as the
word of God whatever the Pope may
say on any matter whatever. But this
is not correct. Again some people be-
lieve that the Pope occupies himself in
the invention Of new religious doctrines
and by his authority forces them upon
Catholics, who are entirely too credu-
lous. This is a serious mistake. Cath
olics know well that the Pope, IL so
minded, can commit sin. But they are
proud Of the long line of sanity men
who have succeeded st. Peter as the
head of the church. lnfallibiity is not
a matter Of his private life, but Of his
public teaching office. This infallibility
is not displayed in all that he may
chance 10 say. IL is restricted TO the
teaching of Catholic doctrine, which is
concerned with faith and morals. In
matters outside of religion he is not in
fallible. Even in teaching religion he
is not infallible except when he ad-
dresses the whole church and gives
decision in matters of faith, from which
there is no appeal. The Pope is the
successor of st. Peter in the Office
which Jesus Christ bestowed upon him.
This Office of supreme pastor and teach
er must be safeguarded and protected
by divine Providence.
If the head of the church were per-
mitted by God to teach error in the
place of truth and lead astray the
whole flock of Christ, then indeed would
the church be corrupted and ruined
completely.
The power Of hell would be victorious.
But Jesus Christ said, Matt. l6, "The
gates of hell shall not prevail against
It." His promise will be kept faith
fully. He again says to Peter: Luke
22:32, 81 have prayed for thee that thy
faith fail not. " But that prayer was
in vain if Peter in the discharge of his
official duty has failed to keep the true
faith and confirm his brethren. Our
Lord committed His whole flock to Pc
ter's Pastoral care, as we read in John
81, "feed my lambs, feed my sheep"
The Lord did not leave his sheep with
out shepherd. The Office of pastor is
perpetuated, just as the church, the
sheep fold of Christ, is perpetuated.
The infallibility of the Pope is the
only surety we have that the teachings
of Christ have been faithfully trans
mitted TO US and will be safeguarded TO
the end of the world.
Father Rankin explained that masses
were not for sale, that indulgences
were not permits to commit crime, but
incentives to the practice of virtue.
He showed likewise that the Catholic
doctrines of purgatory and praying for
the dead were founded on the existing
order of things on reason, on the attri-
butes of God, on Scripture and on the
belief of the early Christians, who were
better able than we are to judge Of
what was true or false in matters Of
religion