p. 11 | Some Teachings Condemned by Rome by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1909

Some Teachings Condemned by Rome

By Editor

[The following propositions are taken from “The Syllabus of the principal errors of our time, which are stigmatized in the consistorial allocutions, encyclicals, and other apostolical letters of our most holy father, Pope Pius IX.” In reading these propositions, it should be remembered that the statements therein made are condemned as false. In other words, those who hold to the views expressed in these propositions are anathematized as maintaining heretical doctrines. As Rome never changes, the doctrines condemned by Pope Pius IX are still under the anathema of the church, and those therefore who advocate as true the principles contained in these propositions are necessarily under the ban of the church. The study of these propositions will therefore show the present attitude of Rome toward some of the fundamental doctrines of Protestantism.—Ed.]

15. EVERY man is free to embrace and profess the religion he shall believe true, guided by the light of reason. (Apostolic Letter “Multiplices inter,” 10th June, 1851; Allocution “Maxima quidem,” 9th June, 1862.)

17. We may entertain at least a well-founded hope for the eternal salvation of all those who are in no manner in the true church of Christ. (Allocution “Singulari quadam,” 9th December, 1854; Encyclical Letter “Quanto conficiamur,” 17 August, 1863.)

18. Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which it is possible to be equally pleasing to God as in the Catholic Church. (Encyclical Letter “Noscitis et Nobiscum,” 8th December, 1849.)

19. The church is not a true, and perfect, and entirely free society, nor does she enjoy peculiar and perpetual rights conferred upon her by her divine Founder, but it appertains to the civil power to define what are the rights and limits within which the church may exercise authority. (Allocution “Singulari quadam,” 9th December, 1854; “Multis gravibusque,” 17th December, 1860; “Maxima quidem,” 9th June, 1862.)

23. The Roman pontiffs and ecumenical councils have exceeded the limits of their power, have usurped the rights of princes, and have even committed errors in defining matters of faith and morals. (Apostolic Letter “Multiplices inter,” 10th June, 1851.)

24. The church has not the power of availing herself of force or any direct or indirect temporal power. (Apostolic Letter “Ad Apostolicae,” 22d August, 1851.)

27. The ministers of the church and the Roman pontiff ought to be absolutely excluded from all charge and dominion over temporal affairs. (Allocution “Maxima quidem,” 9th June, 1862.)

47. The best theory of civil society requires that popular schools, open to the children of all classes, and generally all public institutes intended for instruction in letters and philosophy, and for conducting the education of the young, should be freed from all ecclesiastical authority, government, and interference, and should be fully subject to the civil and political power, in conformity with the will of rulers and the prevalent opinions of the age. (Letter to the Archbishop of Fribourg, “Quum non Sine,” 14th July, 1864.)

54. Kings and princes are not only exempt from the jurisdiction of the church, but are superior to the church, in litigated questions of jurisdiction. (Apostolic Letter “Multiplices inter,” 10th June, 1851.)

55. The church ought to be separated from the state, and the state from the church. (Allocution “Acerbissimum,” 27th September, 1852.)

77. In the present day, it is no longer expedient that the Catholic religion shall be held as the only religion of the state, to the exclusion of all other modes of worship. (Allocution “Nemo vestrum,” 26th July, 1855.)

78. Whence it has been wisely provided by law, in some countries called Catholic, that persons coming to reside therein shall enjoy the public exercise of their own worship. (Allocution “Acerbissimum,” 27th September, 1852.)