Page:On papal conclaves (IA a549801700cartuoft).djvu/195

 Rh takes care of itself when once promulgated for all time, because its nature is assumed to represent an eternal principle, which, once recognised, stands for ever an indelible member in the organism of the Church's doctrine. Moreover, the instance of Gregory 's declaration, and the terms of the sentence of reversal pronounced thereon by his successor, conclusively establish that there is no exceptional force for a Pope in the obligations attaching to this particular engagement. For Gregory himself, in accordance with the original prescription of Pius  had confirmed on his accession the terms of the original Bull, and yet in spite of this solemn act of adhesion he considered himself at liberty to issue a qualifying declaration of its meaning; while Clement  who made no effort to disguise irritation at his predecessor's action, never introduced a word in the unfriendly language with which he reproved the proceedings that implied a charge against Gregory of having exceeded the hounds of his lawful privileges—of having violated a fundamental vow—by those modifying declarations which he solemnly repealed in virtue of an identical authority.

But even if it he granted that there is