Pope Innocent X. A brief of the 14th of May 1648 contains the resolutions adopted by a congregation of cardinals and prelates, to whom the investigation of the complaints made by Palafox had been transferred by the holy see. The society was placed under the jurisdiction of the bishop in all the disputed points, although at the same time lenient measures were recommended to Palafox;[1] general absolution was granted him; and all rights and privileges conflicting with this decision declared null and void.
With proud satisfaction the prelate sent a copy of the brief to the Jesuit fathers of the colleges at Puebla, and however great their reluctance might be, they could not openly disregard the pontifical orders. After deliberating about the matter, they expressed their willingness to obey, and on October 23d exhibited their licenses, which were not only ratified by Palafox but supplemented with new ones, A short time afterward an episcopal decree revoked all the previous censures and restrictions. While the Jesuits submitted they protested, however, against the pope's brief in so far as it had arrived without the exequatur of the India Council, and so well they knew how to avail themselves of their influence that although this necessary requisite was later formally issued, years elapsed before it could be ordered by the audiencia that the papal brief should take effect.[2] On the advantage thus obtained all their subsequent opposition was founded,[3] for they had always sufficient friends,
- ↑ They could not preach or confess in their own churches without notifying the bishop, or in any other without his consent; and were forbidden to appoint jueces conservadores, or to excommunicate the bishop or his vicar general. For full text of the brief, see Palafox, Obras, xii. 289-308. Alegre asserts that this decision was obtained because the messenger of Palafox appeared in Rome unexpectedly, and the proctors of the society, almost ignorant of the whole affair, had no documents to prepare a comprehensive defense. Hist. Comp. Jesus, ii. 340-1. The same author in Id., 342-9, explains several of the decisions with the sophistry characteristic of his order.
- ↑ The execution of the papal brief had been ordered by royal cédulas of Dec. 12, 1648, and March 18, 1651. Palafox, Obras, xii. 318-19.
- ↑ Difficulties created by the bishop about licenses for younger Jesuit fathers, and the peremptory demand for the execution of the papal brief, were the main reasons which revived the dispute.
