Page:William John Sparrow-Simpson - Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (1909).djvu/288

 268 The Legates further announced that the conditional votes would be taken into consideration, and reported upon in the next Congregation. Ninety-one Bishops also abstained from voting, although in Rome at the time. When the members re-assembled on Saturday, 16th July, a report was made on the conditional votes and the amendments; but so far from anything being done to conciliate the minority, the wording of the decree was made somewhat more uncompromising than before. To the definition voted on the 13th, that the decrees of the Roman Pontiff were irreformable of themselves, it was now added "and not by consent of the Church," thus emphasising still more strongly that the dogmatic authority of the Papacy was independent of the entire Episcopate. After this stupendous achievement the Presidents informed the Bishops that, although the Council was not prorogued, a general permission was granted them to return to their dioceses until 11th November (St Martin's Day).

The final Public Session at which the Pope proposed to convert the formula into dogma of faith was fixed for Monday, 18th July. There was for the minority certainly no time to lose. They made one last attempt. On the Saturday evening a deputation of the opposition, including two Cardinals and the Archbishops of Paris and Milan, went to the Vatican and sought an audience with the Pope. After waiting an hour, they were admitted at nine o'clock. The Archbishop of Paris was their representative. In his own name, and in that of his associates, he declared his submission to the doctrine of Infallibility, but requested the insertion of the phrase, "relying on the testimony of the Churches." This phrase would have acknow-