the memory of an author who had deserved well in so many points respecting religion, but on account of the just fear of new dissensions.'[1]
Thirdly, it is to be remembered that, so far from Gallicanism being an opinion open and recognised, which theologians and Catholics may hold and teach as freely as any other, it has been a question whether they who defend the four Articles after the repeated Pontifical condemnations are capable of sacramental absolution. 'N., a confessor in France, asks whether he can and ought to absolve those ecclesiastics who refuse to submit themselves to the condemnation which the Holy See promulgated, of the four celebrated propositions of the Gallican clergy.' The reply was as follows: 'After diligently weighing the question proposed, the S. Penitentiaria decided in answer; The declaration of the Gallican Assembly in the year 1682 was indeed condemned by the Holy See, and the acts of the Assembly were rescinded, and declared to be null and void; but no note of theological censure was affixed to the doctrine contained in that declaration: wherefore nothing hinders that sacramental absolution be given to the priests who in good faith, and being so persuaded in mind, still adhere to that doctrine, so they be otherwise worthy of absolution.—Rome, Sept. 27, 1825.'[2] From this, two things are evident. First, that if a
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