Page:William John Sparrow-Simpson - Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (1909).djvu/381

 ] classification of papal utterances is accordingly involved in the doctrine of intention. It will be necessary in every case to ascertain what the Pope's intentions were. Now of all intricate and desperately difficult problems none surpass the doctrine of intention. No wonder then if there will be discordant verdicts among the theologians, and a large element of insecurity.

Following upon this analysis of the theoretical conditions requisite for infallible utterances comes the practical enquiry, to what particular papal decrees do these conditions really apply? Upon what precise occasions did the Pope bestow upon the Church the advantages of his Infallibility? This is a question upon which theologians are much more reticent. They deal at considerable length with the necessary conditions which such an utterance would require, but many among them refrain from all practical application. They do not indicate which among the immense collections of papal documents really possesses this supreme distinction. Newman, indeed, says that the Pope "has for centuries upon centuries had and used that authority which the Definition now declares ever to have belonged to him." According to this assertion the Pope has not only possessed this power, but "used it." The implication appears to be that since he has possessed it for centuries upon centuries he has used it frequently. Newman, however, quotes with approval the statement that "the Papal Infallibility is comparatively seldom brought into action." Indeed, he himself observes:—