The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"INFALLIBILITY OF THE POPES. 161this is a privilege you do not claim, then, I ask,of what use to you is the objective Infallibility ofthe Bible, without an infallible interpreter?If God, as you assert, has left no infallible interpreter of His Word, do you not virtually accuse Himof acting unreasonably? for would it not be mostunreasonable in Him to have revealed His truthto man without leaving him a means of ascertainingits precise import ?Do you not reduce God s word to a bundle of contradictions, like the leaves of the Sybil, which gaveforth answers suited to the wishes of every inquirer?Of the hundred and more Christian sects nowexisting in this country, does not each take theBible as its standard of authority, and does noteach member draw from it a meaning different fromthat of his neighbor? While in the mind of Godthe Scriptures can have but one meaning. And isnot this variety of interpretations the bitter fruit of"your principle An infallible Bible isenough for:me? and does it not proclaim the absolute necessityof some authorized and unerring interpreter ?Youtell me to drink of the water of life ;but of what useis this water to my parched lips, since you acknowledge that itmay be poisoned in passing through themedium of your interpretation?How satisfactory, on the contrary, and how reasonable, is the Catholic teaching on this subject ?According to her system, Christ says to everyChristian :Here, my child, is the Word of God ;and14* L