Pius IX, 1846-1878

1751. 51. Moreover, secular government has the right of deposing bishops from the exercise of their pastoral ministry, and is not bound to obey the Roman Pontiff in those matters which regard the institution of episcopates and bishops (8, 12).

1752. 52. The government can by its own right change the age prescribed by the Church for the religious profession of women as well as of men, and can prescribe for all religious orders that they should not admit anyone to the pronouncement of solemn vows without its permission (18).

1753. 53. The laws which pertain to the protection of the status of religious orders and to their rights and duties should be abrogated; indeed, the civil government can furnish aid to all those who wish to abandon the institute of the religious life which they once accepted, and to break their solemn vows; and likewise, it can suppress these same religious orders, as well as collegiate churches and simple benefices, even those of the right of patronage, and can lay claim to, and subject their property and revenues to the administration and will of the civil power (12, 14, 15).

1754. 54. Kings and princes are not only exempt from the jurisdiction of the Church, but they also are superior to the Church in deciding questions of jurisdiction (8).

1755. 55. The Church is to be separated from the state, and the state from the Church (12).

Sec. VII. Errors Concerning Natural and Christian Ethics

1756. 56. The laws of morals by no means need divine sanction, and there is not the least need that human laws conform to the natural law, or receive the power of binding from God (26).

1757. 57. The science of philosophy and of morals, likewise the civil laws, can and should ignore divine and ecclesiastical authority (26).

1758. 58. Other powers should not be recognized except those which have their basis in the material (physical side of man), and all moral discipline and honesty should be employed to accumulate and increase wealth in any way whatsoever, and to satisfy man's pleasures (26, 28).

1759. 59. Right consists in a physical fact; all the duties of men are an empty name, and all human deeds have the force of right (26).

1760. 60. Authority is nothing more than numbers and the sum of material strengths (26).

1761. 61. The chance injustice of an act brings no detriment to the sanctity of the right (24).

1762. 62. The principle of "nonintervention" must be proclaimed and observed (22).

1763. 63. It is lawful to withhold obedience to legitimate rulers, indeed even to rebel (1, 2, 5, 20).