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Reference is made to the claim that the pope: “Can pronounce sentences and judgments in contradiction to the right of nations, to the law of God and man.”WWPGC 35.5

And as authority for this quotation, a reference is made to “The Decretalia.”! If a brief sentence should be quoted, and the authority should be stated to be “the Encyclopedia Britannica,” it would be just as valuable and just as definite a reference as this one, inasmuch as the “Decretalia” cover centuries of time and many volumes.WWPGC 35.6

Furthermore, I have been utterly unable thus far to locate this quotation. It is evidently taken from The Facts for the Times, where it is also credited to the “Decretalia.”WWPGC 35.7

Response: Criticism accepted; and a substitute paragraph, making the point, and one that could be supported with available references took its place.WWPGC 35.8

1888 book read: “Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let history testify of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. Romanism openly puts forth the claim that the pope ‘can pronounce sentences and judgments in contradiction to the right of nations, to the law of God and man.’”WWPGC 35.9

1911 edition carries a substitute paragraph reading: “History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. In the year 1204, Pope Innocent III extracted from Peter II., king of Arragon, the following extraordinary oath: ‘I, Peter, king of Arragonians, profess and promise to be ever faithful and obedient to my lord, Pope Innocent, to his Catholic successors, and the Roman Church, and faithfully to preserve my kingdom in his obedience, defending the Catholic faith, and persecuting heretical pravity.’ This is in harmony with the claims regarding the power of the Roman pontiff, that ‘it is lawful for him to depose emperors,’ and that ‘he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous rulers.’” (Footnote reference to quotations are given.) (Substitution of quotations was approved by Ellen G. White.)WWPGC 35.10