Tbe claim of civilrulers to an authority, absolute and inalienable, in temporal and even in spiritual matters, without any responsibility for their use of such power to those whom they govern. It reached its highest pretensions under Henry VIII and James I, and appeared in later times under the Hohenzollern emperors and the czars. Such claim was approved by Luther and Melanchthon, but never by the Catholic Church. Theologians like Aquinas, Bellarmine, and Suarez have refuted it. Authority has its origin from God. It resides directly in the people who transfer or entrust it, not as its source, but as its channel, to those who exercise it for the good of the people and with responsibility to them.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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