# Church and State (Galt)/Part 3

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Is the Issue thus raised Political or Religious?
It now only remains for me to consider, whether, the affirmative answers necessarily given to the two questions propounded, form a Political or a Religious issue, and may be discussed without trespassing upon theological ground.
My own conviction is clear that the discussion belongs wholly to the Civil or Political phase of human society, and in the foregoing remarks, while necessarily holding my views as a Protestant on the dogmas of the Vatican Council, I have tried to avoid any reference to them, which could be interpreted as in any way disputing their claim to entire acceptance by Roman Catholics. Should it prove, as many gloomily predict, that these Decrees have left no common standing ground, as fellow citizens, for those who are in, and those who are out of the pale of the Roman Church, it will soon be painfully manifest, and each must act as his conscience dictates.
​Although I am myself, I trust, a sincere Christian, yet reading and observation have taught me that Religion, be the particular creed what it may, is a sentiment of the human mind, more or less profound according to the idiosyncrasy of the individual. Apart from its moral teachings,—which have very widely differed in different ages, and among the various races of the world,—it has no temporal power whatever; it deals exclusively with the interest of man beyond the grave; and though men have constantly presumed to pronounce upon the future fate of their fellow mortals, it is certain that the final judgment will be rendered by the Omniscient, who alone cannot err. The necessary and logical deduction from this peculiarity of the religious sentiment, has been, that, from the very earliest ages, and under every system of faith that has prevailed, the teachers have been compelled to seek from the Civil powers, the authority to enforce their doctrines.
The Christian form of religious belief, and its teachings, as developed by men, have, in the course of nineteen centuries, followed precisely in the same steps. We shall search in vain for a period when human power, human law, and Civil government, have not been grasped at by the Church as a means of compelling obedience to their dogmas. It is thus clear, that unless Civil society chooses to wield the weapon against itself, the "spiritual sword" of the priesthood will be powerless to wound.
These observations are, I suppose, trite enough, but I think they will not be considered out of place, when they are intended to preface my appeal to all good citizens, whether Catholic or Protestant, to resist the present attempt of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy to control the Local G-overnment of Quebec.
The State—whether rightly, Protestants as ​generally think, or wrongly, as the Syllabus teaches—has the supreme power on earth, and can compel compliance with its decrees. The Courts of Justice declare the rights and obligations of every one, in the eye of the law. To cite extreme examples; in England we see points affecting the doctrine of the Church of England frequently settled by the Courts;—we see clergymen directed to administer the sacrament itself when it had been illegally withheld;—we have seen the ecclesiastical sentence against Joseph Gruibord prohibiting his burial, reversed by the Privy Council, and we all know that no unjust sentence or injury can be inflicted by Bishop or Priest affecting temporal interests, for which our law will not provide a remedy.
It is certainly not a religious question, but a political or civil one, whether we shall change this state of things—whether we shall surrender our civil rights into the hands of the Priesthood or not—whether we shall permit them to use at our elections an undue influence infinitely more powerful and more dangerous than that of gold or intemperance—whether they shall dictate to us what we shall say, or read, or think, and thus gradually shackle all the energy and intelligence of our young Dominion?
Well may "Ultramontane," in the letter to which reference has previously been made, say of the Pastoral of 1st February, issued by Mgr. Bourget, that he "makes bold to call (it) the most extraordinary document ever issued by a Catholic Prelate"; but, unfortunately, there are, as I have shown, others nearly or quite as remarkable, as yet, disavowed by no superior authority. I rejoice, however, to observe the sensible course adopted by Archbishop Lynch, and it emboldens me to address my fellow-subjects generally of the Roman Catholic, rather than those of my own faith, in entreating them ​to unite with those, both Catholic and Protestant in Quebec, who deplore and resent the attitude of the Hierarchy.
Let not our sister Provinces wrap themselves up in indifference—they will soon learn that what injures Quebec, injures them,—and that agitation and discord here, means trouble and disturbance at their own doors. It would ill become a man of my years and experience, even if it suited my taste, to use the language of menace, but I may fittingly employ words of entreaty and warning,—and I therefore do in the most earnest manner, pray for such sympathy and help as will arrest the designs of those who are now troubling us. Let the Roman Catholics (I speak wholly without reference to party terms) in Ontario and the Maritime Provinces, assure those of their own faith here, that they may rely on their aid,—and we shall soon see such a phalanx drawn from both political parties, and united with the Protestants, as will make the Hierarchy pause, and return to their proper sphere of teaching piety and morality to their people while living, and supporting them in death with the comforting assurance of happiness hereafter.
Permit me to recall a page from the past history of our noble Province. In 1836 the French Canadians, in the pursuit of many laudable reforms, mixed, unfortunately, with much that was national and sectional, allowed themselves to become involved in open contest with the supreme power, and with their English-speaking fellow-subjects. The issue was most disastrous, and for the time not only deprived them of all civil rights, but so seriously alarmed the minority, that, though possessing the control of the Government, the latter sought and obtained safety through union with Upper Canada. Should the encroachments of the Hierarchy, ​and their influence over their people, once more provoke a contest, history will possibly repeat itself, and the discord of Quebec be extinguished by the change from a Federal to a Legislative Union of British North America. Many events already transpiring point to such a change, and if the Protestants are once thoroughly alarmed, and find their civil rights invaded, it may be found the easiest and safest measure to restore harmony. Already we may accept the note of warning, conveyed in the formation of the Protestant Defence Alliance, and its spreading organizations. It is only the first indication of growing discontent, and should not be disregarded till other and more menacing demonstrations are made. One thing is certain, that the rest of the Dominion cannot allow Quebec, to become the seat of chronic agitation and disorder, to the injury and danger of the other members of the Confederation.
But if it be not so, and this struggle is allowed to extend and intensify, then the day which sees the triumph of the priest, will usher in that which will overthrow his power for ever. It is impossible that in a Province of the Protestant empire of Great Britain, on the continent of America, in the presence of Forty Millions of Protestants, a slavery should be imposed upon us by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, which exists no longer even under the shadow of the Vatican. Free speech—free thought—and a free press, must have the fullest scope in America; and if, in a wild scheme to reduce them to obedience to the will of the Priesthood, they be for the moment repressed, all history tells us that the torrent when it bursts, will sweep away far more than the barrier that arrested its course,—and will leave behind the wreck of many noble Catholic institutions, to mock the folly of those, who make unwilling adversaries, of natural and affectionate friends.
​In conclusion, let me endeavour to comply with the demand made upon me from various quarters, to point out some course of action which will avert the evils of which I complain. The course is plain and the result certain, but it involves the co-operation of the leaders of our rival political parties, and can therefore, only be obtained through pressure upon them. If the leaders of both political parties would, for once, lay aside their mutual jealousies, and unite in a declaration to the Hierarchy, that their interference must absolutely cease, or that all would unite in legislation to check it effectually, this affair must end. To attain this object, I suggest an organization composed of Catholics and Protestants, irrespective of creed, nationality or political party, for the maintainance of the Civil Rights of the people; such an organization, thoroughly in earnest, would bring sufficient pressure on our rulers, both at Ottawa and Quebec, to ensure their compliance, and to settle for our day at least, the proper and harmonious relations of Church and State.
A. T. GALT.
Montreal, 3rd April, 1876.