Publisher's Synopsis
We shall show that the chief divisions of the Oriental Orthodox Church are so constituted as to present the whole Oriental Orthodox Church divided into several separate and independent Papacies. Hence it is that, whatever is objected against the Catholic doctrine of a visible head of the Church, as destroying her unity by making her a double-headed one, ought, with far more reason, to be alleged against the Oriental Orthodox Church, as many Popes destroy the unity of the Church more than one single Pope does.There is a practical consequence resulting from the doctrine of the Oriental Orthodox Church concerning her own government, to which we intend to call the reader's closest attention. That doctrine, we do not hesitate to affirm, contains in itself the seeds of all revolutions, logically leads to them, and does not, to say the least, insure to the government of the Church any greater stability than that which civil Governments enjoy. The proofs in support of this assertion will form the subject of an especial chapter.After this we shall examine how it is that the same danger is not to be feared for the Catholic Church. Finally, we shall dwell on three points of the highest interest, as those to which may be reduced all objections which, from a practical point of view, can be alleged against the supremacy of the Pope; we mean, the limits of his authority, the abuse of it, and, lastly, the reason which justifies Catholics in their filial devotion and extensive obedience to the Pope.
