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The Infallibility of the Papal Magisterium as Presented in the Pastoral Letters of the Bishops of the United States after Vatican I
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 September 2014
Abstract
Much of the confusion about the proper interpretation of the carefully formulated definition of Pastor Aeternus on the infallibility of the papal magisterium stems from improper presentations, even immediately after the Council. Only Archbishop Spalding of Baltimore took the time to nuance his presentation. The sympathy evoked worldwide among Catholics for the loss of the Papal States and the freedom of the Roman Pontiff also added to the confusion. The texts of the letters and statements of the bishops are important objects of study for anyone wishing to trace the course of “papal infallibility.”
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References
1 Recent writings include: Mucci, Giandomenico S.J., “La competenza del Magistero infallible,” Civiltà Cattolica 139/111 (07 1, 1988): 17–25;Google ScholarCostigan, Richard J. S.J., “The Consensus of the Church: Differing Classic Views,” Theological Studies 51 (1990): 25–48;CrossRefGoogle ScholarO'Gara, Margaret, “Listening to Forgotten Voices: The French Minority Bishops at Vatican I and Infallibility,” Theology Digest 37 (1990): 3–15;Google ScholarPottmyer, Hermann J., “Ultramontanismus und Ekklesiologie,” Stimmen der Zeit 210 (1992): 448–64.Google Scholar
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4 Pastoral Letters on the council were written by Archbishops Alemany, Blanchet, and Spalding, as well as by Bishops Amat, Persico (appointed to succeed Augustine Verot in Savannah, when Verot was moved to St. Augustine), and Rosecrans (Columbus), who was not a participant at the council. Archbishop Perché (New Orleans), who succeeded to the see on May 25, 1870, wrote a Lenten Pastoral on the topic in 1871. It should be noted that for only Spalding and Rosecrans was English their native tongue.
5 The two most noteworthy were Peter R. Kenrick of St. Louis and John B. Purcell of Cincinnati. For Kenrick, see Hennesey, James S.J., The First Council of the Vatican: The American Experience (New York: Herder and Herder, 1963), 304–26;Google ScholarMiller, S. J., “Peter Richard Kenrick, Bishop and Archbishop of St. Louis, 1806-1869,” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia 84 (1973): 121–28.Google Scholar For Purcell, see Hennesey, 299-309.
6 Metropolitan sees and their archbishops were: San Francisco, Joseph S. Alemany, O.P.; Oregon City, Francis N. Blanchet; St. Louis, Peter R. Kenrick; New York, John McCloskey; New Orleans, Napoleon J. Perche; Cincinnati, John B. Purcell; and Baltimore, Martin J. Spalding.
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11 For practical reasons, Pius IX was compelled to issue the decree Postquam Dei Munere on October 20 proroguing the council indefinitely. A suggestion of Archbishop Spalding that the council be continued in Mechlin in Belgium was never acted upon and thus the twentieth ecumenical council never reassembled.
12 The Monitor (San Francisco), 11 12, 1871.Google Scholar The Freeman's Journal for 1871 carried regular reports on its front page entitled, “Letter from an American Lady” (in Rome). The protest of Cardinal Antonelli, Secretary of State, to the pontifical representatives throughout the world can be found in a number of papers, e.g., The Pilot (Boston), 12 31, 1870.Google Scholar
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19 Francis Kenrick had died prior to the council, but he was quoted by some on both sides of the question. Alemany spoke on June 20 and the fiery Augustine Verot of Savannah contradicted him on June 24: Mansi, ed., 52:790-97 and 955-66.
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