There seems to be no doubt that the proposition for
defining infallibility was distributed to the Council on the 7th March, but the discussion will of course be a long one. The Monde, a Catholic paper generally well informed, translates the schema (which, by the way, it must have got hold of by somebody's infraction of his vows)y. thus,—" Le Pontife romain ne pent se tromper, longue agissant en sa qualite de docteur supreme de tons les Chretiens, it definit ce que PEglise universelle doit tenir en matieres de foi et de- morale ; et que cette prerogative de non-erreur [inerrantite] on d'infaillibilite s'etend aux memes matieres que celles sur lesquelles- porte l'infaillibilite de l'Eglise." It seems clear from this, if it be- a correct account of the schema, that inerrability is expressly attributed to the Pope when acting in his capacity of supreme• teacher of all Christians, and defining what the universal Church ought to hold on matters of faith and morals. Of course the dis- cussion will last a considerable time ; and even if the admission of a French ambassador to the Council, which Count Darn seems to. have demanded, and the Pope, it is said, has cheerfully conceded, should make no difference, we may not get the actual vote this. month.
Previous page
