The True and the False Infallibility of the Popes/Contents

by Josef Fessler

 

THE

TRUE AND THE FALSE

Infallibility of the Popes.

When a man, who for a course of years has passed for a true son of the Catholic Church and a zealous defender of her rights, suddenly turns against the Pope and Bishops with the sharpest weapons he can command, no one can deny that this is a painful sight for every one who loves his Church. Enemies of the Church will, indeed, rejoice, and eagerly greet his accession to their own ranks. Such a man is Dr. Schulte, Professor of Canon and German Law at the University of Prague, who has just published a pamphlet with this high-sounding title, 'The Power of the Roman Pontiffs over Sovereigns, Countries, Peoples, Individuals, according to their Doctrines and Acts, held up to the Light, in order to afford persons the means of making a true estimate of their claim to Infallibility.' Misleading indeed is the light this pamphlet holds up for our guidance, the subject being really presented to our view in a light wholly false and extremely repulsive. Surely love of truth imperatively requires that so grave a subject should at any rate be represented in its just and fair light; and this is the object the author of the following pages has set before himself, viz. to present the subject to his readers, without passion and without partiality, with that knowledge which many years' study, and an exact acquaintance with facts and circumstances, enable him to do.

The subject, as treated by Dr. Schulte, is divided into the following heads:

I. 'Exposition of the subject as introduction.'

II. 'The contents of the definition of the Vatican Council, "On the Infallible teaching Office of the Roman Pontiff."'

III. Part 1.—'Doctrinal propositions of Popes simply ex cathedrâ, and their acts in relation to states, countries, peoples, and individuals.'

III. Part 2.—Relations of Popes to the state law. Treatment of heretics.^[1]

IV. 'Pleas devised to quiet the conscience, and their confutation.'

V. 'Considerations on the law of the state.'^[2]

 

1. This division, being made for the convenience of English readers, is given in the words of the Translator.
2. It must be borne in mind that the headings of the chapters are all taken from Dr. Schulte's pamphlet; if not in his own words, at least in their substance.—Translator.