The Express.
London, England, 1859-12-24 00:00:00

TEA ENGLISH* BOMAN CATHOLICS AND TES

PAPAL GOVAIWNENT.

The following most interesting letter appears in
the Timm of to-day Sir,—l have waited in rain for
some mate powerful end able rouse than mine, among the
Independent catholic", to rise in protest against a movement
that is now in program, and that is promoted by some mem-
bers of our faith in this country. It is with regret that I
find myself differing with any of my eo-religionists, and that
I feel myself forced to break a silents I could wish to have
maintained on this subject. Bat what is now taking
place most so much tend to impart an erroneous Idea
of the trim principles of the Roman catholic church to
which I am proud to belong that I can no longer forbear
raising my voice, humble and unsupported though it be,
against a proceeding that is equally injurious to our reli-
gion and to us as loyal sobjesta. I refer to the "Declare-
lion of Sympathy to his Hollers the Pope" which Is now
going the round of this country, praying for the signatures
of the Roman catholic laity. After the very fair expodtion
sod able refutation of the resolutions contained in that
decomeat which have already appeared in your column.,
it would be superfluous for me to dwell upon its
details. I readily agree with you that this decla-
ration Is an act as unprecedented in Its nature as
It is illogical and preposterous in the resolutions it
embrace.; and that every enlightened and independent
individual in this country, be he catholic or protestant, mast
look upon it with regret, if with no stronger feeling. I
would almost appear that those who originated such •
declaration were under the pressure of some undue influence,
which had led them to abdicate not only the natural cha-
recta of Englishmen, but even the free use of their intelli-
gence. There le an unfortunate feature in the present
agitation of that pert of the Italian question that bears
upon the states of the church. It is that the ultra-
montaniste of the clerical party, wandering far beyond
the precinote of their spiritual domain, attempt to con-
found what are purely temporal matters with the spiritual
Interests of the church, thus dragging the question Into an
arena to which it should remain entirely foreign. As a
catholic I must protest against this mierepeesentation. I
maintain that the temporal power of the Popes forma no
part of the catholic's religion ; that It Is sot in any way to
be °animated with it; and that it is Buie leis than a
column, against our church to assert that her spiritual
latereets can be dependent upon the existence or non-
existence of aay human institution. The infidel welters of
the past century, in their most bitter and envenomed attacks
upon Rome, never palmed a libel so gross as that which
declares that the Interests of religion are bound up in
the continuance of • temporal government which
has become • byword throughout Europe for its
Impotency for all that is good, ite misrule, and be
corruption. It would be: well for those who have the
cry of the interviste of the church' unceasingly upon their
lips to look calmly and dispassionately upon the saorameot
that Is mow taking place amen the population of those very
states that are engrossing so much of their attention. They
would there behold on one hand • people who have already
thrown oft a yoke so hateful to them that words can but
faintly describe the intensity of their feeling ; and, on the
other, a people still writhiag in chains which the promote of
en overwhebniag foreign force alone prevents them framrend-
leg Let them, then, ask themselves whether It be
for the interests of religion that these populations should be
driven to a still further state of desperation, and whether if
Is am to be fend that political animosity, If too long pro-
voked, may mot eventually, In the intensity of their excited
pentane, urge them even to • religious separates.
" I am, sir, your obedient servant,
"Dec. 22." "HENRY PETRE.