The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

PR/MACY OF PETER.12 jThe absence from the Protestant communions ofis to them an enda divinely-appointed, visible head,less source of weakness and dissensions.It is an inseparable barrier against any hope of a permanentreunion among themselves, because they are leftwithout a common rallying centre or basis of union,and are placed in an unhappy state of schism.The existence, on the contrary, of a supreme judgeof controversy in the Catholic Church, is the secretof her admirable unity. This is the key-stone thatbinds together and strengthens the imperishable archof faith.From the very fact, then, of the existence of asupreme head in the Jewish Church from;the factthat a head isalways necessary for civil govern^ments, for families, and corporations from;the fact,especially, that a visible Head is essential to themaintenance of unity in the Church, while theabsence of a Plead necessarily leads to anarchy, weare forced to conclude, even though positive evidence were wanting, that, in the establishment ofHis Church, it must have entered into the mind ofthe divine Lawgiver to place over it a Primate invested with superior judicial powers.But have we any positive proof that Christ didappoint a supreme Ruler over His Church? Tothose, indeed, who read the Scriptures with the single eye of pure intention, the most abundant evidence of this fact is furnished. To my mind, the NewTestament establishes no doctrine, u/Jess it satisfies11