# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_November 1861_S345
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Romanizing Tendency of the Volksblatt für Stadt und Land. 445

of a Roman Catholic Church in which people would rather get rid of sin by
human means of penance than by true contrition of heart through the blood
of Christ; whereas I know only one which, while it does require human
penance as a testimony of true repentance, regards no outward means of
penance — if performed in a purely external way, without goodwill
(caritas) and without faith (fides) — as of the slightest help. — If, and
where, such a Roman Catholic Church as he caricatures exists (does it
really?), then I too say: that would be the Antichrist. But I can testify
only this: such a Roman church I have not yet encountered (where, then,
does the Herr Professor of History live?). — — "Even if my opponent
seems to imagine that the Roman Church wants to know nothing of the
Gospel, he is quite dreadfully mistaken (indeed!); on the contrary, she is
of the bona fide opinion that she is in the fullest accord with the
Gospel — though admittedly not everywhere with what evangelical theology
reads in the Gospel. But that is a dispute over the interpretation of the
Gospel, not over its authority; and if we think the Roman Church errs in
her interpretation, then that can be disputed — but, one hopes, in an
evangelical spirit and with gentleness — not by abuse! not by bearing
false witness! and certainly not (however conscientiously meant)." — In
the volume for 1853, Herr Prof. Leo, among other things, makes himself
heard thus: "Priestly ordination, and this again in as many grades as the
priestly functions have, over time, developed organic distinctions, is
the foundation (!) of a perfect church. This rite, however, cannot be
performed by a lower order; only the higher can perform it, for he alone
has the judgment, and he alone has the power of transmission and binding.
All authority must come from above. — — Succession is wholly necessary
to the episcopate, for without it, ordinations to the priestly and
episcopal offices, being conferred only through lower orders, are, in
truth, not really possible at all. — — The indelibility (ineradicability)
of ordination likewise belongs to the true and complete priesthood, for
without it the office-holder could, like a bad servant no longer pleased
with his place, simply run off from his service. — — For the church's
full organic growth into Christ, I hold the episcopate, the succession of
the episcopate, the priestly estate, priestly ordination, and its
indelibility to be essential — mind you: I do, of course, also believe
alongside this that the Spirit of Christ, who enters livingly into
Christian people out of the true doctrine and out of that portion of
tradition which is contained in Scripture, can, under the immediate
working of God's grace, grow up into a church even in a fragment broken
off from the whole — otherwise I could indeed not remain a Protestant — I
even believe that, under the immediate working of the Lord — — — a true
episcopate can form itself anew even in such a church — but so long as
the episcopate is not, or not with the full charism of the office, — —
developed, the church lacks the monarchical element, and Christ is
Monarch and Head, indeed, of this or that individual