BOOK NOTICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 86

BOOK NOTICE.

"Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility," by the Rev. W. J. Sparrow Simpson, chaplain of St. Mary's Hospital, Ilford. London; John Murray. (Cloth, 6s net.) In this valubale work on "Papal Infallibility" the rev. author voices the opinions of tho advanced section of the R.O. Church. With quiet persistent logic, but great temperance of expression., he shows the weakness of a doctrine which seems to b|fcn indefensible, and points out the difficulties experienced by many sincere Roman Catholics in accepting it: also the opposition it (has met with "during several centuries and in different countries." It will surprise the reader —who may not b 9 well-informed on. the subject—to learn how wide-spread is this opposition, and ihow many loyal and faithful sons of the Church have been and still are, unable to isubsuribe to this dogma. To the outside world the Roman Church, has always presented a solid front; none but the initiated know the dissensions, divisions, and heart-burnings within. In his present historical consideration of the subject Mjc Simpson appeals first to the 'evidence of Scripture," declairing that:—'''Whatever validity faith may attach to the teaching of the Chm-cl* to-day tfcene .must be reasons, and reasons which demand and justify an enquiry! .into the doctrine of other ages. . . What relation does this doctrine bear to the facts of history? And obviouslv, fins* of all, what does Scripture say'?" The claims based on Our Lord's wordis to Peter (Luke xxu., 32) are then considered and shown to be of a purely personal and conditional nature, tending rather to show the "human imperfection" of the Apostle than to ■establish any evidence of his .infallibility. The evidence of "the Fathers of the Church" is next considered; and here we have quotations from many great authorities showing that:—"Reman writers have differed greatly in their view of the artistic evidence of Papl Infallibility," and that some of the !:>est known and oftenest quoted passages from the Fathers have been used by both sides with equal effect. The appeal to early historical evidence is admitted by Roman writers themselves "to be meagre and disappointing." We then come to the gradual development of thought on the limits of Papal power ; the attitude of ths first four councils of the Church, and the comments of various learned writers who have tried to define it. Oneof the greatest (Cardinal Bellarmine) declaring that, "We may pray to God to convert tho Pope, to take him away before ho ruins the Church." iTorquamada, the famous Inquisitor, in defending the doctrine of infallibility placed' the supremo decision, "not in the Pope but in a general council of the Church," .and considered that "the Pope could make a misuse of free-will." Agaan and again the question was brought up, argued upon, and left. Veron in, his "Rule of Faith" (1646) declared, "Since the Catholic Church teaches nothing concerning Papal Infallibility, neither need I." Yet the dogma gradually gamed ground', and as its claims were advanced the opposition became stronger, and this opposition was especially powerful in England where in ,f a famous exposition of the Roman faith for English-speaking peiopla called ' Keenan's Catechism.' it was authoritatively taught until 1860, that the doctrine of Papal Infallibility was a Protestant invention. It is no article of the Catholic faith.; no decision of his (the Pope's) can oblige under pain of heresy, unless it be received and enforced by the teaching body—that is by the bishops of the Church." In a new edition of this catechism brought out in 1860 the above answer is deleted and we are told that, "the visible Head of the Church on earth received from Christ the same prerogative of Infallibility which . . .belongs to the Church by olivine institution." T n this manner, step by step, Mr Simpson brings the historical question down to modern times, to "Ultramontanism in France and .in Germany," to the writing of Darhoy, Dupanleup, Maret, Montelembert, Bollinger, Hohenlohe, and Friedri.ch, and to the positive claim to infallibility first put forth officially at the instigation of Pius IX.. in the council of the Vatican, 18691870. The story of that council, of its decisions and the strong opposition by which they were met, occupy the rest of the book, which now comes into modern times, and touches a- controversy with which we are all mere or less familiar, which has raged with greater or less acrimony for forty years. And those forty yeans, what is their history? How far have they proved the value of a dogma which., "was pushed through admittedly to enable authority to meet by the rapidity of its decision the speed of modern life?" The answer is a startling one: "Not once has authority availed itself of its newly decreed prerogative. . Since Pius IX died authority has spoken many times.: but never once on the level of unalterable decree. . . The practical utilitv of ih& new decree has been purelv historic. It applies, according to the Fioman theologians, to utterances prior to that decision, not since. What the future may produce it is impossible 1o say." Four utterances only 'have so far been declared to be infallible: —(l) the decree of Immaculate Conception; (2) the dogma of Papal Infallibility : (3) the cChdemnation of the five prooositions of Jan.pen bv Innocent X. in 1653: (4) the Coriuitution of Banedact XII. in 13?6." On the other hand the difficulties .and dangers of such a proposition ere many and great, :and are to be summed up at the ccneliv.ion of this informative book: —"The practical effect so far has been, to alienate more grievously than ever the separated Churches of the Fast. Was this in the rea;l interest of Christendom? It- may be that?, somewhat exhausted by this terrific strife, authority 7s recruiting itself, and- will some day utilise its new prerogative, with tremendous results; that, it is meanwhile treasuring up its mow resources against

a- day of need. But so far as the historic •development has hitherto advanced it is a theoretic rather than a practical victory. It possesses all the intellectual problems of a new, precarious, and bewildering dogma, without the practical gains of a prerogative manifestly and constantly utilised in the service of mankind."