§ VI: Errors Concerning Civil Society, Considered Both in Itself and in Its Relations to the Church

39. The state of the Republic, as being the origin and source of all rights, is endowed with a certain right circumscribed by no limits.

Alloc. Maxima quidem, June 9, 1862.

40. The doctrine of the Catholic Church is opposed to the good and advantages of human society.

Encyclical letter Qui pluribus, November 9, 1846. - Alloc. Quibus quantisque, April 20, 1849.

41. To the civil power, even when exercised by an infidel ruler, there belongs an indirect negative power in sacred things; therefore there belongs to the same not only the right which they call exequatur, but also the right of appeal which they name from abuse.

Apostolic Letters Ad Apostolicae, August 22, 1851.

42. In a conflict of the laws of both powers, civil law prevails.

Apostolic Letters Ad Apostolicae, August 22, 1851.

43. The lay power has authority to rescind, declare, and make void solemn conventions (commonly Concordats) entered into with the Apostolic See concerning the use of rights pertaining to ecclesiastical immunity, without its consent, indeed even while it protests.

Alloc. In consistoriali, November 1, 1850. - Alloc. Multis gravibusque, December 17, 1860.

44. The civil authority can mix itself into matters which pertain to religion, morals, and spiritual government. Hence it can judge concerning the instructions which the Pastors of the Churches publish, according to their office, for the norm of consciences; indeed, it can even decree concerning the administration of the divine Sacraments and the dispositions necessary for receiving them.

Alloc. In consistoriali, November 1, 1850. - Alloc. Maxima quidem, June 9, 1862.

45. The whole government of public schools, in which the youth of some Christian Republic is instructed, with episcopal seminaries excepted in some respect, can and ought to be attributed to the civil authority; and indeed so attributed that no right be recognized in any other authority whatsoever of involving itself in the discipline of schools, in the governance of studies, in the conferral of degrees, and in the selection or approval of teachers.

Alloc. In consistoriali, November 1, 1850. - Alloc. Quibus luctuosissimis, September 5, 1851.

46. Indeed, in the seminaries themselves of Clerics, the method of studies to be employed is subjected to civil authority.

Alloc. Nunquam fore, December 15, 1856.

47. The best plan of civil society demands that popular schools, which are open to all boys from every class of the people, and public Institutes generally, which are destined for handing down letters and more serious disciplines and for caring for the education of youth, be exempted from every authority, moderating force, and interference of the Church, and be subjected to the full choice of civil and political authority, according to the pleasures of those ruling and according to the standard of the common opinions of the age.

Letter to the Archbishop of Freiburg, Quam non sine, July 14, 1864.

48. That plan of instructing youth can be approved by Catholic men which is separated from the Catholic Faith and from the power of the Church, and which looks only to the science of merely natural things and to the ends of earthly social life, or at least primarily to them.

Letter to the Archbishop of Freiburg, Quam non sine, July 14, 1864.

49. The civil authority can impede the sacred Prelates and the faithful people from communicating freely and mutually with the Roman Pontiff.

Alloc. Maxima quidem, June 9, 1862.

50. The lay authority has by itself the right of presenting Bishops, and can exact from them that they enter upon the administration of dioceses before they receive canonical institution and Apostolic Letters from the Holy See.

Alloc. Nunquam fore, December 15, 1856.

51. Indeed, the lay Government has the right of deposing Bishops from the exercise of pastoral ministry, nor is it bound to obey the Roman Pontiff in those things which regard the Episcopate and the institution of Bishops.

Apostolic Letters Multiplices inter, June 10, 1851. - Alloc. Acerbissimum, September 27, 1852.

52. The Government can by its own right change the age prescribed by the Church for the religious profession both of women and of men, and command all religious Families that they admit no one to pronounce solemn vows without its permission.

Alloc. Nunquam fore, December 15, 1856.

53. Laws which pertain to protecting the state of religious Families and their rights and offices are to be abrogated; indeed, the civil Government can furnish aid to all those who wish to fall away from the institute of religious life they have undertaken, and to break solemn vows; and likewise it can entirely extinguish those same religious Families, as well as Collegiate Churches and simple Benefices, even of the right of patronage, and subject and vindicate their goods and revenues to the administration and choice of the civil power.

Alloc. Acerbissimum, September 27, 1852. - Alloc. Probe memineritis, January 22, 1855. - Alloc. Cum saepe, July 26, 1855.

54. Kings and Princes are not only exempt from the jurisdiction of the Church, but are also superior to the Church in deciding questions of jurisdiction.

Apostolic Letters Multiplices inter, June 10, 1851.

55. The Church is to be separated from the State, and the State from the Church.

Alloc. Acerbissimum, September 27, 1852.