The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-24

to decree, goes to much trouble TO
discover the truth of the matter IN
hand. Is this not inconsistent with
his Gift, and does it not manifest a
lack of conviction that he possess the
gift? How can we be sure he has
done his duty?
Your use or this expression gift
of infallibility seems to indicate
that you think the Pope is supposed
by Catholics to have received at
his elevation some special, IN
herent quality which makes him lnfal-
lible. This is an error. Neither do
Catholics believe that the Pope re-
ceives new revelations, nor does the
Church teach that he is inspired as
the writer's Of the Scriptures were in
snired. In the words of the Vatican
Council, he is infallible through the
divine assistance" Whether this as
sistance consists merely in a divine
guardianship or vigilance presiding
over the Pope's announcements TO
preserve them from error, or, in addl-
ton to this, is a positive divine intfu-
covery of the truth, authoritative
teaching does not decide. Until it
does so, the most that Catholics have
10 believe, as well as the least that
they may believe, is that the Pope is
infallible through a divine guardian
ship preventing error.
The proper understanding of the
prerOgative of infallibility, therefore,
makes it clear that, while the sole and
entire cause of infallibility is the di-
vine assistance, the Pope is required to
exert his own powers. God expects him
to act as a rational being and hence
10 use his intellect and will to dis
cover the truth, not indeed as con-
dition for obtaining the divine assist
ance, but in order TO make use OF his
infallibility in a rational manner. His
announcements though issued under
divine guarantee OF inerrancy are
human pronomcementS, his own, not
Gods and they are issued in his own
name, though they carry the author
ity of God. Hence they should be pre-
ceded and accompanied by all the care
and diligence that prudent and con-
scientious men exhibit in the exercise
of acts OF the same nature and of
similar importance and difficulty. The
pope, therefore, studies, cOnsults, ETC.,
in order to do his duty, not in order
to be infallible, and the certainty of
the truth of his teaching is based not
at all upon his industry or knowledge,
but solely on Gods guarantee that He
will not let him err. Granted the fact
that the Pope, acting in his official,
public capacity as pastor and teacher
of all Christians, defines in virtue of
his supreme, apostolic authority doe
trine relating to faith and morals as
one to be held by the universal
Church, we are certain of his infal-
libility, whatever may have been his
negligence, or whatever be his intel.
lectual or moral shortcomings.
In recent newspaper a Mr.. Jesse
KeIIems claimed that the first Chris.
tian Church was called the New TIES.
lament Church though most people
think it was the Roman Catholic. What
authority did he have for his asser.
tions?
His sole authority for calling the
Church that Jesus Christ established
the New Testament Church is his own
statement We read (Acts XI, 26)
that in Antioch the disciples we're first
called Christians. The word church
is not of New Testament origin. The
Church" Of Moses is mentioned fire
quently in the Old Testament; anG
was established by Moses under tbs
authority of God. Christ sets his
church in contrast with that of Moses
Thou art Peter and upon this rocf
I will build My church. MAT XVI
1S). The commission that Christ gave
10 His apostles contained very fully
the meaning of the word Catholic, OF
universal, Going therefore teach "
all nations, teaching them to believe
all things whatsoever l have com
manded you, and | am with you al
days even to the end of the world.
MAT XVIII, 1920. It's command rests
on the full authority of Jesus, al
power is given to Me in heaven ant
on earth All the faith is to bt
preached to all nations for all time
In matter of authority, in territory, il
time all is catholic. This church en-
dowed by Christ with catholic faith
power and jurisdiction was later giveI
the name Catholic. That Peter, whom
Christ made chief of the apostles
preached the Gospel in Jerusalem
then in Antioch and afterwards il
Rome, where he died, are facts o
history, that, we thank God are NJ
longer called in question. After Pc
ter's death his Office was occupied by
Linus and after him by line of sue
cessors reaching town to the presen
chief of the apostles, Benedict XIV
The Church is in it's nature and al
its functions catholic and properly ha!
this title. The name Roman" doe!
not follow from the constitution of thu
Church, but has been added BECAUSE
it's seat of government is in Rome, t.
distinguish the Church from human
societies that have assumed the name
catholic Authentic testimony as earl.
as $50 A. d. gives to the Church it