The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-27
POPE VICAR Of
CHRIST ON EARTH
Rev. Father MahOney Lectures
on Infallibility of Roman
POntifF.
EXPLAINS MANY POINTS
MUCH misunderstood
COrrects Prevalent Impression
That Catholic Sovereign Re-
ceives Revelations.

nom Catholics was conducted Wednesday
night by Rev Father George Mdhony.
who preached to large and Interested
audience. taking for his subject, "Thc
Infallibiity OF the Pope OF Rome BE-
fore the sermon Nicholas Scautter hari-
tone. sang the "Veni Creator" by Rossi.
Rev, Father Mahony said in part;
MY dear brethren, the lectures We are
giving YOU this week-meant both for
Catholics and non -CatlloIcs-for the for
mer that they may understand better The
truth of their religion, and for our nom
Catholic friends that they may come to
know the real beauty and truth OF our
holy religion. really believe that If
Catholics understood better and moro
fully the doctrine OF their faith they
would be truer Catholics. and also oe-
church lived up 10 their religion prop
erly. the whole world would soon come
to, to know the truth Then II nonrc on. catnE aaii,
they would soon come TO the fold OF
Christ My dear friends. remember this.
When you meet man who processes the
Catholic faith. but who is a cheat,
liar, calumniator an adulterer ana
who is all that is vile, then remember
that lie is not worthy son OF the grand
old church
The Church Established.
Tonight / will speak TO you on
subject misunderstood by our non
Catholic friends and one SO greatly mis-
represented by the enemies OF our
esta taSished only one church for the whole
world and all people that she is the
Catholic church: that Christ is her IN.
guide. that she has a visible head on
earth, the pope. who holds his Office by
virtue OF his being the successor OF 81.
apostles and heuds OF the church when
he said. Thou art Peter and upon this
rock ! will build my church and tho
gates of hell shall not prevail against
her Peters real name was Simon. but
Christ said, Thou art Peter. meaning
rock and upon that foundation given
thority the Catholic church has rested |
for 1900 years and will rest until the
end OF time We believe that the church
is infallble and that when the pope |
speaks as the vicar OF Christ on earth |
IN defining n doctrine of faith or morals
to the whole church. he is infallible.
Not by Revelation.
In regard TO this | do wish YOU dis
,inctly understood we do not claim be-
cause of this infallibiity that the pope |
is inspired or receives revelations. We |
! contend that no revelations were gwen !
TO the world since the time OF the spos-
ties for the Holy Ghost was not prom |
ised 10 the successors OF the apostles IN |
order that they n,ght spread new doc
trine. but that with His assistance, they
might guard inviolably the revelation
Of faith handed down by the apostles.
InfalIihlitv docs not mean that the pope
Is impeccable or exempt from the liaoli,
261 popes and all with few exceptions.
have been men OF vrtuous lives. Many |
of them have been martyred and seventy
nine out OF the 261 are invoked upon our
altars as saints for their holiness. The
avowed enemies of the church charge
only FIVE or six popes with immortality
accusat tions brought against them. we
have forty-threc virtuous 10 one bad
pope, while there was a Judas lscariot |
among the twelve apostles,
But although vast majority OF the
sovereign pontlffs should have been so
unfortunate as TO lead vicious lives. this
circumstance would not OF itself impair
the validity OF their preroga tives. which
arc given not for the preservation of
their morals. but for the guidance of
their Judgment; for there was Balaam
among the prophets. and g. Caiphas among I
the high priests of the old law
Confess Their Sins.
Plus confesses his sins every morn
ing at the altar, while once or twice
week he goes to confession. And at the
o Holy Father. almighty. everlasting |
God. this oblation which I, thy unworthy
servant, offer for my innumerable sins.
offenses and neEiigences.'
with these facts before their eyes,
J rannot comprehend how ministers OF
the gospel betray so much Ignorance, or
arc guilty OF so much malice. as to pro-
claim from their pulpits. which ought TO
he consecratcd 10 truth. that ipfallIbity |
means exemption from sin, do not see
how they can benent their cause by so
hagrant perversions Of truth.
In Official Capacity Only
Bear in mind. also. that this divine
assistance is guaranteed TO the pope not
IN his capa city as private teacher, but I
= only IN his official capacity; when he
ssnsdct fnurs H,v pope for rI,s instance Ike
on canon law, his book would be as much |
open to criticism as that OF any doctor
of the church
Finally the inerrability of the popes.
being restricted to questions of faith and !
morals. does not extend TO the natural |
sciences. such astronomy or geology, |
unless. where error Is presented under
the false name OF science, and arrays it, |
self against revealed truth.
The council Of the vatican. by pro- |
mitigating the pores infallibility, does
mol create new doctrines. but confirms
old ones In proclainlin5 dogmas the |
church cnforces as law principle which |
has always existed as matter of fact
Confirms Established Doctrines
II may illustrate this point by refer |
ring again TO our supreme court. When
question his decision. though presented in |
new shape. cannot he called new doc
trine. because II is based on the letter
and spirit Of the constitution
- 'fn like manner. when the church Is |
sues new dogma of faith, that decree |
is nothing more than new form Of ex- |
pressing old doctrine, because the de-
cision must tc drawn from the revealed
Word OF God.
The course pursued by the church re-
sarding the infalibility OF the pope was
pracriced by her In reference to the di. |
vinity OF Jcsus Christ. Our Savior was
acknowledged 10 be God from the begin
ming OF the church. Yet His divinity was
not formally defined untiI the council OF
Nicaea I'm the fourth century. and Il
would not have been defined even then
had u not been denied by Arius And
who Will have the presumption to say
that the belief in the divinity OF our
Lord had It's origin In the fourth cen. |
tury? =.
Long the Practice.
THE following has always been the
practice prevailing In tho church of Cod
from the beginning OF her history. When
ever bishops or national councils promuI-
gated doctrines or condemned errors they
always transmitted their DEGREES TO Rome
for confirmation or rejection What Rome
approved the universal church approved
what Rome condemned, the church CON