The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-25 00:00:00

trienin

LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1845.

During the profligate reign of CHARLES IL, and after
the expulsion of his brother from the throne of these
kingdoms, various Acts were passed by Parliament with
a view to check the progress of the Catholic religion,
and guard against the influence of any foreign potentate
in governing the affairs of the country. Some of these
Acts are now justly regarded as too severe. The pro-
gress of knowledge, the increase of toleration, which
necessarily followed, and the loyalty displayed by
many Catholics in defence of their Sovereign and
country, led to wonderful changes, and gradually
effaced those invidious distinctions so long
maintained between Protestants and Catholics
on the ground of religion. Even up to the period of
Catholic emancipation many disabilities from time to
time had been removed, and possibly as quickly, too, as
the prejudices in Great Britain would safely permit, till
at last the two sects were placed nearly on a footing of
equality. The children of both are now educated partly
at the expense of the State ; they learn principles of
morality and religion in the same schools, and the
system is found so beneficial, both in a national and
social point of view, that it has been carried
still farther. Maynooth has become a national
establishment, and three additional colleges have
been established fur carrying out the original plan on
which the national system of education was founded.
One restriction, however, established by Act of Parlia-
ment remains still in full force—namely, that which for-
bids direct intercourse between the Courts of England
and Rome ; and though the sentiment may appear illi-
beral, we are inclined to think that the principles on
which that Act was founded are in the main good, and
it would be well for the country if it were obscrv,ed even
more strictly than it has been for the last half
century. It is dangerous to allow any foreign
power to interfere in the internal affairs of ar.other, and
even in Catholic countries, so much are .the Govern-
ments convinced of the fact, that the adm;,ssion of bulls,
or edicts, or by whatever other name the ordonnances
of the Court of
,Rome may be callr,d, is guarded by
very stringent restrictions. We re,gret, therefore, to see
the Catholic prelates, or more T:;roperly speaking, a cer-
tain portion of them, still ar,,pealing to the POPE, and
professing to be guided ;:n the most important affairs
by, the decision of a conclave of old cardinals.
Such appeals inrAve often the strangest con-
tradictions, witkout at all taking into account
the inroad made by such a step on the legitimate Go-
vernment cif the country. The last appeal of the kind
—that reative to the New Colleges Act—is no exception
to the, rule, for it would be impossible to adopt a resolu-
akin at once so contradictory and absurd. It is brief,
and we therefore give it entire:—
" Resolved,—That the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland
having resolved that the measure of Academical Education
proposed by the Government was dangerous to faith and
morals, while the securities which they required for the re-
moval of those dangers were refused by the Government and
the Legislature ; we, as guardians of the faith in Ireland,
and aexious to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond
IA peace, lay before the Holy Father our former resolutiel-,s,
and their application to the Act in its present form, te,gether
with the grounds on which those resolutions were, founded,
in order that we may all receive the decision. of his Holi-
ness, and recognise the voice of Peter in tie person of his
successor."

These very reverend and very teamed prelates, first
.of all, lay down a very clear and, intelligible proposition.
They declare that the measure of academical education
is dangerous to faith and morals ; yet still they appeal
to his HOLINESS, in order that they may enjoy the benefit
of his decision, and recognise the " voice of PETER in
the person of his successor." Bat suppose the voice of
PETER should pronounce in favour of the measure, and
declare it not only harmless as regards the Catholic
faith, but highly calculated to promote the good of both
Catholics and Protestants—a result very probable—
what are these Heads of the Church to do ? Are
they to obey the descendant of PETER, and con-
Wary to their deliberate conviction, expressed
language about which there can be no mistake, sup-
port the " gigantic scheme of godless education," alike
dangerous to faith and morals ? There is no alterna-
tive. They must obey the voice that issues from the
Vatican, and sacrifice the dictates of their own coil.
science at the order of an erring and sinful creature like
themselves. Aware of the absurdity involved in the
resolution, they at last tried t', mend the matter by
another, -headed "DissentiPAit," in which they sim-
ply submit to the Holy See, for its consi-
deut-:c -Ow, Bill for Academical Education
Ire tjley.E9rAider the resolution in that shape
a more "“imsate Bt'a:tement and more respectful to the
Holy See. 11'4 that does not in any degree do
away with the Prertnus resolution, nor hold out the
slightest thence by -Which they can escape from the
dilernin4 in case of the POPE sanctioning the Bill. They
comfit vote black white, they cannot destroy their