THE POPE'S NEUTRALITY.
[To ram Elms or SOO ..seaemea.1 Srn,—I hope you will write an article on the neutrality of the Pope as suggested by an "Inquirer" in your issue of the 3rd inst. As one who has been a Roman Catholic for over twenty years, I find the Pope's silence and inaction in this great con- flict most condemnable because of the position and powers he claims. He claims to possess the gift of infallibility in all matters of faith and morals. Catholic Austria's support of Protestant Prussia's violation of the neutrality of Belgium, and all the consequent breaches of the moral law involved in what the Germans—Catholic and Protestant alike—have done in Belgium, involves vital questions of faith and morality, calling for the exercise of this claimed gift. The silence and inaction of the Pope raise the question whether hs is what, he claims to be, or is possessed of any more infallible power than Protestants and others possess to decide the questions of faith and morals this dreadful war has raised. The Pope has brought himself into a position to be condemned, because the supreme position he claims to occupy is such that he cannot rightly remain neutral, any more than his Master would be in like circumstances. In fact, when such vital issues are at stake, and all faith and morality is in danger of being swamped in a sea of iniquity by the rulers of a people who seem possessed with a Satanic spirit, no really Christian man or nation can rightly carry the principle of neutrality to the point at rendering themselves dumb, and still less can the repre- sentative and responsible heads or Government of a professing Christian nation or Church do se.—I am, Sir, lie., Dui-infield Lodge, Bournemouth, F. J. Jones. [We deal with this question in our leading colnsana—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
