Page:True and False Infallibility of Popes.pdf/76

Rh 12. Having made his own exposition of notes of a definition, Dr. Schulte proceeds to assert 'that only the Pope himself can define the subject-matter, the comprehensiveness, and the limits of an utterance ex cathedrâ.' This assertion is so far true, that it is certain that no human authority can prescribe any thing to the Pope in this matter. If, however, it is meant that the Pope, according to his own will and fancy, can at all events extend his infallible definition even to matters relating to the Jus publicum, to which the divine revelation does not extend, then he has laid the case before us quite erroneously. The Pope, in his doctrinal utterances, only speaks what he finds, under the special divine assistance, to be already part of the truth revealed by God necessary for salvation, which he has given in trust to the Catholic Church (i.e., in the divine depositum fidei). The same assistance of God which securely preserves the Pope from error preserves him with equal security from declaring that to be revealed by God, and intrusted to the keeping of the Catholic Church as a matter of truth or morals, which God has not revealed and has not deposited in His Church.

Supposing then, as Dr. Schulte says, 'the infallible teaching office of the Church can even extend to all subjects and departments of man's life which have any bearing upon his moral conduct,' yet assuredly no infallible doctrine will ever be pronounced which is not part of the truth revealed by God. Were the contrary of this possible, then would God have forsaken His