Errors of modernism identified by beliefs that: The Church is not a true and perfect society, entirely free – nor is she endowed with proper and perpetual rights of her own, conferred upon her by her Divine Founder; but it appertains to the civil power to define what are the rights of the Church, and the limits within which she may exercise those rights. (Papal Allocution, Singulari Quadam, 9 December 1854).
The civil government, even when in the hands of an infidel sovereign, has a right to an indirect negative power over religious affairs. It therefore possesses not only the right called that of exsequatur, but also that of appeal, called appellatio ab abusu. (Papal Apostolic Letter, Ad Apostolicae, 22 August 1851).
The secular Power has authority to rescind, declare and render null, solemn conventions, commonly called concordats, entered into with the Apostolic See, regarding the use of rights appertaining to ecclesiastical immunity, without the consent of the Apostolic See, and even in spite of its protest. (Papal Allocution, Multis Gravibusque, 17 December 1860; Papal Allocution, In Consistoriali, 1 November 1850).
The civil authority may interfere in matters relating to religion, morality and spiritual government: hence, it can pass judgment on the instructions issued for the guidance of consciences, conformably with their mission, by the pastors of the Church. Further, it has the right to make enactments regarding the administration of the divine sacraments, and the dispositions necessary for receiving them. (Papal Allocutions, In Consistoriali, 1 November 1850; and Maxima Quidem, 9 June 1862).
Kings and princes are not only exempt from the jurisdiction of the Church, but are superior to the Church in deciding questions of jurisdiction. (Papal Encyclical, Damnatio Multiplices Inter, 10 June 1851).