10 MAY 1873, Page 14

THE NEW LIBERALISM ON CHURCH AND STATE.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SFROTATOR:]

SIR,—I beg you to pardon my misunderstanding of the expression in your article on "The New Liberalism on Church and State,' which you intended exclusively to refer to the opportuneness of the Vatican decree, De Romani Pontificis Infallibili Magisterio. Of course, a Catholic holds that the erpositio Fidei implied the defensio Fidei, though I apprehend that Father Dalgairns would hardly have recognised an exact summary of his Contemporary Review article in the paraphrase of the Spectator.

To give you the kernel of the Catholic view as to the oppor- tuneness of dogmatic teaching, let me quote an excerpt from the petition of the five hundred prelates who procured the notice of the Vatican Council for the impugners of the Papal Infallibility :— " Si igitur Concilium Vaticanuni, adeo pro rocatum, taceret et catholicse doctrinw testimonium dare negligeret, tune catholicus popu- lus de vera doctrina reapse dubitare inciperet." The silence of the Council might be misconstrued. Doubtless, future Councils will have to re-assert, in one form or another, against future varieties of heresy, the same doctrine which past Councils have so often asserted. The Vatican Council has, however, done its part se far in what immediately concerned it, and has unquestionably acted opportunely as a consequence.—I am, Sir, Esc., LAICHS.