§ 144. - Abolition of the Temporal Power. 145 labus" were understood to put the Catholic Church, as represented by its official Head, frankly at war with the commonly recognized course of modern civilization.

Council of the Vatican.

143. Towards the close of the year 1869 an Ecumenical Council was assembled at the VATICAN (the Papal Palace in Rome), which continued in session until October 20, 1870. This Council reaffirmed the principles of the "Syllabus of Errors; Syllabus of Errors;" and, after long debate, and under strong protest, established as a Catholic dogma the personal Infallibility of the Pope in every sentence, officially delivered, on a point of faith duly submitted to his judgment. This was understood to be the logical development and combination of the claim to supreme spiritual authority always asserted by the Church.

NOTE.. - The modern dogma of Infallibility may be compared with the assertion of papal supremacy made by Boniface VIII. (§ 72), differing as it does from that in leaving untouched the field of secular politics. It was strenuously resisted by the great French prelate Dupanloup, Archbishop of Orleans; and by the eminent German theologian (the most distinguished Catholic historian) Döllinger, who still maintains his opposition, with the support of the “Old Catholics" of Germany.

Abolition of the Temporal Power.

144. In the summer of 1870 the "Second Empire" of Napoleon III.—which was understood to be favorable to the papal pretensions-was overthrown. Among the political results which followed, Rome was declared the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The Papal States were now merged in the Kingdom, and the political sovereignty of the Pope was abolished. September 20, 1870.

a. By the terms of settlement, the Pope remains independent lord and quasi-sovereign of the estate and palace of the Vatican, with a generous maintenance from the State. This, however, he has hitherto refused, preferring to appeal to the bounty of the Catholic world as "the Prisoner of the Vatican.”

b. The chief political acts affecting the Roman Church since the abolition of the Temporal Power, have been: 1. the prohibition in France, under existing statutes, of "unauthorized Congregations," leading to the dispersion of many Jesuit and other Schools sustained as religious foundations (1880); 2. the suppression of many religious establishments in Italy, and the absorption of their properties by the State, which provides for the public maintenance of the Church; 3. the so-called “ May Laws” of the German Empire (passed in May, 1873 and 1875), designed to protect the loyal Catholic clergy suspended by the Pope, and to expel the disloyal among them; also to require in them a systematic university education. These were accompanied, in January, 1875, by the recognition of civil marriage of priests, and in March by the "Falk Laws," withholding government support from the disloyal clergy, abolishing religious orders, and giving protection to the "Old Catholics." These laws have since been the subject of violent remonstrance and controversy.

Of the Jesuit Schools thus disbanded there were 74, containing 1,011 teachers and about 10,000 pupils.