Year: 1870

The question Of Papal Infallibility, which is at
present under discussion in the Vatican Council has
secured the attention of tho civilized world to an
almost unparalleled degree. Not only do many
million copies of daily newspapers carry intelligence
concerning it to every town and village of the civil
lied nations, but hundreds of thousands of leading
articles and many thousands of pamphlets and
books have discussed the question in all its aspects
1t was to be expected that vast number of false
rumors and Misrepresentation concerning such a
question would find their way into the press. 1t
could not be otherwise with any question that is the
subject of violent controversy, and the discus
sion of which is partly to be shrouded in an official
secrecy. Whoever has any acquaintance with the
history and present condition of the Catholic Church
will easily recognize thousands of reports-ncludng
quite a number of daily cable dispatches which
are circulated concerning the Infallbility question
as absurd and impossible. Many other reports, not so
palpably false, and purporting to come from the
most trustworthy authorities, have been declared by
members of the Council to be base inventions. Many
Others again. asserted by and denied by Others,
test the ingenuity of those who anxious to dis
ccrn the false from the true. In the face of much
that obviously false very doubtful, it is not an
easy task to evolve the real and ncOntestble facts
of the case


PARTIES IN THE CHURCH.


The difficulty is considerably less with regard to
| the state Of public opinion in the Roman Catholic
world at large than with regard to the position and
prospects of the question within the Council. One OF
the best literary papers Of Catholic Germany which
defends the truth of Papal Infallibilty but doubts
the opportuneness of defining it as a dogma, and
which is distinguished less for the moderation OF
its language than for its learning SAYS that at the
present time there are within the Church seven par
ties as concerns the question of Infallibty. First:
Those who regard the belief in Papa Infallbility as


necessity, treat the contrary view as he1etlca de-
mand dogmatical promulgatOn, and seek to pro-
mote the latter by all just and many unjust means
Many writer's of the Jesuit order, especially those
who write for the chief organ of the Utramontane
party the Crilta Cditocd of Rome, counted with
this class. Second Those who desire the promulga-
ton of the doctrine but who respect all who oppose
it up the time of the dogmacal definition as good
Catholics The Bishops who have signed the poStud-
tun for the doctrine belong partly to this partly to
the preceding class. Third: Those who personally
accept the truth of the doctrine but deny or doubt
the opportuneness of declaring it as an article OF
faith 1t is claimed that the majority of the bishops
who belong to the Opposition of the Council, es-
pecally the German, Austrian and French Bishops,
share this view. The fourth class which comprises
the immense majority of the Catholic people, have
formed personal opinion either for or against the
doctrine but confidently leave everything to the in





will guard the Council from falling into any doctrinal
error The ffh class have thus far been unable to
convince themselves of the truth of the Infalbility
doctrine, but they ready to accept subnissively
and cheerfully any decision of the Council whatever
it may be- The sirth comprises those opponents OF
Infallibity who regard their view a. so irrefutabe
that they would be tempted to doubt the pcumencal
character of q council which should promulgate such
a doctrine and to repudiate its decisions. Donger,
it is thought, must be put in this class and with him
many Of the prominent scholars who have signed
congratulatory and sympathetic addresses to him.
Lastly a serenh class goes far in opposing the In
fablity of the Pope, that indirectly it throws over
board with it the infalliblity of the Church itself
! The famous work of Janus" " on The Pope and the
Council is considered representative work of this
| shade of opinion.


This classification made by careful and thought
full observer, well portrays the condition of the
Catholic Church. far its scholars, priests, and
| small number of eminent laymen are concerned
To complete the picture it should however be added
that both in the New and in the Old Worlds many
millions are only nominally connected with the
Church. and are altogether Indifferent to the proceed
ings Of the Council. look at the Parliaments OF
countries like Italy Spain, Austria, France Belgium.
and many others, which by name wholly Catholic,
while they choose deliberately representatives OF the
| people who are sworn enemies of the Church, can
| leave no doubt as to this point 1t should also be
| added that very large number of those prominent
| laymen who have been in the European Parliaments
or the highest positions of State OF of society," tie
| leading champions of the interests of the Church,
| have publicly come out as earnest opponents OF
| Infallibty AS regards theological scholars and
proninent members of the priesthood it sufices to
| mention such names as Gratry and Father Hyacnthe
| in France John ii. Newman in England, Dollinger,
| and of those more than One-half of all the theo-


logical professors of Catholic Germany, to furnish
conclusive proof that the opposition to the proposed
| doctrine has developed a much greater force than
was commonly anticipated. The great phalanx in
defense and promotion of the doctrine has been the
order of the Jesuits. Though comparatively small in
the number of its members, this order has from the
beginning taken the front rank in the defense OF the
doctrine and has published more works in its favor
than all the other religious orders taken together 1t


is natural enough, therefore, that the Jesus should
| be charged by the opponents of Lnfalbility with
1 being the prime movers of this whole scheme and
responsible for all the calamity which many Liberal
Catholics expect will befall the Church in the
| scheme is carried But though less active, the i'm
mense majority of the religious orders sympahze in
| this question with the Jesuits. Men like Father
| Hyacinthe are rare exceptions, and the Cen
erals of several orders or for instance recently the
General of the Lazarsts, have been able to assure
the Pope that the members of the order unit in
| favor of Infahbty


| THE PARTY OF ISPAIIIBTIIsTs IN THE COUNCIL


Long before the Council met it the general
opinion that majority of the Bishops were not only
personally favorable to the new doctrine, but would
favor its promugation large portion OF the Roman
Catholic Bishops of the present day were before the
| Il LIMIT