The Vienna correspondent of the Times gives in his 'letter
published last Saturday a long analysis of the Pastoral Letter which the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna has issued against those who are urging a secession from Rome. It is in part a sensible enough document, its pith being that no man can be justified in quitting a Church which he believes to be true, on account of the political consequences of its action. "No political event can render a religion either true or false." That is perfectly sound, though the political consequences of a faith may, and often do, raise doubts as to its divine founda- tion, but the Archbishop presses his argument hard. He declares with 'a distinctness usually avbided by Catholic divines that the Pope and the Church are absolutelyidentical. "The Papacy is as old as the Church itself, and will last till the end of time. Christ made the Pope the foundation of His Church, and whoever renounces him renounces the true faith and will find the gates of Heaven closed."
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