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The Purpose of the Papacy by John S. Vaughan
page 50 of 95 (52%)
Pope has no power over the Moral Law, except to assert it, to
interpret it and to enforce it.

6. From this, it is at once realised how restricted, after all, is the
infallible power of the Pope, in spite of the alarm its definition
excited in the Protestant camp, in 1870.

Still, it must be clearly understood that whether speaking _ex
cathedrĂ¢_ or not, the Pope is always the Vicar of Christ and the
divinely appointed Head of His Church, and that we, as dutiful
children, are bound both to listen to him with the utmost attention
and respect, and to show him ready and heartfelt obedience. Anyone who
should limit his submission to the Pope's infallible utterances is
truly a rebel at heart, and no true Catholic.

The Holy Scripture is far from contemplating the exceptional cases of
infallible definitions when it lays down the command: "Remember them,
who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God,
whose faith follow". And, "_obey_ them that have the rule over you,
and _submit_ yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that
must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief".
The margin in the Protestant Version (observes Cardinal Newman) reads
"those who are your _guides_," and the word may also be translated
"leaders". Well, whether as rulers or as guides and leaders, whichever
word be right, they are to be _obeyed_.

7. From this it is evident enough that assent is of two kinds. There
is firstly the assent of Divine Faith; and secondly there is the
assent of religious obedience. Neither can be dispensed with. Both are
binding. All we affirm is that the one is not the other, and that the
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