that when he defines ex cathedrâ, or when as Pontiff he proposes to the Church anything to be believed of faith, he can in no case err, whether he defines with a General Council or without it.'[1]
Duval, of the Sorbonne, says: 'No one can deny that the proposition, "the Pontiff as Pontiff can decree contrary to the faith," opens a way to disobedience, and gives occasion to doubt of many things which have been already received by the whole world, and determined by Pontiffs: a thing not without some appearance of temerity.
'It is absolutely certain, that the Supreme Pontiff cannot err in decreeing ex cathedrâ either on faith or morals; and that immediately on his canonical election he is endowed by Christ with the privilege of infallibility.'[2]
Macedo in like manner affirms: 'In my opinion,
- ↑ 'Responsio fide certa est, infallibile Romani Pontificis judicium in rebus fidei determinandis esse. Ita ut quando è Cathedrâ definit, sive quando ut Pontifex proponit Ecclesiæ quidpiam fide credendum, nullo casu possit errare, sive cum Generali Concilio definiat, sive sine illo.'—Sylvius, De Fidei Controv. lib. iv. quæst. 2, art. 8.
- ↑ 'Nemo negare potest, quin hæc propositio, quod Pontifex ut Pontifex contra fidem possit decernere, viam faciat ad iuobedientiam, occasionemque præbeat dubitandi de multis, quæ jam toto orbe recepta sunt, et a Pontifice judicata: quod non vacat specie aliquâ temeritatis.—Duvall. ap. Suar. p. 590.
'Absolute certum eat, summum Pontificem neque in fide neque in moribus ex Cathedrâ decernendis errare posse, statimque a suâ Canonicâ electione infallibilitatis privilegio a Christo donari.'—Duvallius, De Infallibilitate Rom. Pont. pars ii. quæst. 1, p. 751, ap. Gonzalez.
