The Sun.
London, England, 1819-06-21 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

Mx. have very often tbougia the
n 4tne " CATHOLIC" demanded to be belt, r under-
stood than it generally is : I therefore send you
my ideas thereon, for yo-r insertion.

The Religion described, or rather miS-described, by the
name " Catholic," is the Popish ReligiOn. It is rather ditti-.
cult to ascertain how lung the Popish Religiim has been kniisVa
in England by the name Catholic: ; hut, I think, not until an
early period of the reign of his present Majesty. The name
Catholic has, in my opinion, been assumed by the Papists
from several causes; one is in the unbounded anogance,
pride, and intolerance of the Popish Supremacy, which insists
upon, and insinuates the false idea, that the Popish Religion
is the only true Religion, and that it is the Universal Reii-
gion. Another cause is, that there is a sense in which the
name Catholic is used as opposed to Heretic and Sectary. and
in this bellSe it is by them intended to designate that those
who me not Catholics are Heretics. This is a very.favourite--
applicatiou of the name by the Papists, with whim it is a
principal tenet, that all who are not Papists are Heretics, and
that, particularly in religious matters, they are not boon(' to,
but are rather considered criminal if they do,,keep their tains
with Heretics, as they hold Protestants are. But the
princi-
pal cause of the assumption and use of the name in this c,ain.
try, appears to toe to have been, and to be, to cover the itst
odium attaching to the name of Papist, the bare mention of
which immediately brings to our mental view all the hor-
rible cruelties and- persecutions which were exercised upon
our Protestant Forefathers by the Papists, during the time
the Popish Religion had the power; some of which cruelties
are recorded in Fox's Book of Martyrs, also in the reigns of
Mary (called the bloody), James, and many ot bets in British
History; and these cruelties and persecutions have been eon •
tinned when any opportunity has offered, from those time:
down to, and since the gun•powder plot, which diabolical
plot, by the murderous blowing up of the King and Parlia-
ment, the Papists expected would have re-instated them is
power, and enabled them again to have ftasied their hatred
upon the sufferings of more hecatombs and auto da-fes, of
burning alive of martyred Protestants. The Popish Religion
is certainly most improperly called Catholic. This will ap-
pear, upon referring to the meaning of the word, which, I am
told, is derived from two Greek words, signifying through and
the whole, literally, "-any thing that is universal or general."
Therefore, until the Pope is the governor,and the Popish Re-
ligion has, as it wishes to do, extirpated all other Religions,
and becomes the Univeisal Religion, or the Religion.of the
whole-world, the assumption of the name Catholic is as im-
proper, as it would be for us to assume, that the Prince
Regent is the Emperor of and Commands the Universe, and
that there is no Religion but the Protestant. Equally impro-
per doesit appear to me that the Kings of France should be
addressed, or by us recognized, by the title of " Most Curls-
thus Majesty," which originated by the mandate of a Pope,
who, by suds arrogance, designated that the Popish Kings
were the most or best Christian.

The above arrogant and fAise assumptions and insinnations,
under the name Catholic instead of Papist or Popish, wilt
show that. it is most improperly so named. From these pre-
mises it is obvious the colic' usion must be, that the lteligiou
referred to should be called the Papistical or Popish rengion,
—its professors should be called Papists—and the exercise
of the religion should be called Popery.
If these perfectly correct and proper ❑ames are now, as
they ought always to be used, there will be much less cause
to tear the progress of Pope' y among us; and I have ❑u doubt
that if those names had been always used, they would have pre-
vented much of the annoyance we have put up with front the
Papists about their emancipation ; fur I do think no reflecting
Protestant would sanction such an act. Our good old King
we are sure never wouid, and I fully believe that our Prince
Regent, and his Government, with the examples of our past
history before them, will never consent to Popi►h Etnancipu,
tiuu. %Vail respect,
1 am your well-wisher,
PROTESTUM.

P. S. The Catholics seem sadly afraid of being robbed of
their assumed smooth name. But it appears to me proper to
show the world that thuse who call themselves Catholics sr•
Papists, a►id by so doing to pluck the peacock's feathers fro►
the jackdaw, and the sheep's clothing from the wolf. P.