Unwarranted Domination

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 20, 1909

Unwarranted Domination

One of the departments of the papal court at Rome is called the “Congregation of the Index.” It is the business of that department to examine all books or other publications that are suspected of teaching heresy, and decide whether they are heretical or not. If found heretical, they are placed on the “Index Expurgatorius,” and thereafter to read such works is regarded as an offense against the church and against God. In the time of Pope Paul V, who styled himself “Vice-god upon Earth, the Monarch of Christendom, and the Supporter of Papal Omnipotence,” the writings of the astronomer Galileo were placed on the “Index” because Galileo taught that the earth rotated upon its axis. The teaching of the Catholic Church at that time was that the earth was stationary, and that the sun revolved around the earth. As it would never do to have the teachings of an “infallible church” contradicted, Galileo’s works were treated as above mentioned, and he himself imprisoned for publishing them. As an infallible, unerring church can not reverse itself, Galileo’s works are still on the “Index,” and the Catholic who reads them braves the anathemas of his church. Nevertheless, the world still turns upon its axis, and the obstinate sun still refuses to go around the earth.

What befell Galileo’s works has befallen those of many another since. The “Index Expurgatorius” contains a very long list of works whose influence the Church of Rome has felt herself unable to counteract by a mere exposition of their fallacies. The works that have done most to liberate the minds and consciences of men from thralldom have been those that found their way to the “Index.” It has ever proved a tempting weapon to an intolerant church. Nevertheless, there have always been some who have braved its terrors, and in spite of its repressive influence some have dared to shake off the habiliments of idolatry and superstition, and come straight to the throne of grace for pardon and blessing.

True Christians have never believed that the kingdom of God was dependent for its maintenance and advancement upon the completeness of the boycott which it was able to maintain against those who opposed it by voice and pen. In taking the position it did, the Roman Church assumed to itself a veritable sovereignty over the minds and consciences of men.

The true church of Christ has no need to jingle the chains of mental and spiritual imprisonment. Divine truth is all powerful and will prevail, and the divine Author of truth has left the mind free. He has commissioned no men nor organization to enthral it. The boycotting of books is a childish, undignified, and unauthorized weapon. The truth has thrived in spite of it, and always will. It did not stop the rotation of the earth nor the belief of men in that great fact. Error thrives under it, and truth has never been made the truer by its interposition. It needs hardly be said that the system of ethics, morals, or religion that needs such a support has a foundation too human to endure. In the truth of God there is freedom, not bondage, not subserving of mind or conscience to human control. Said Jesus: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 32. C. M. S.