The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-25
For the Pilot s. Transcript.

| tbe genius and character of the Church OF Rome
in former communication.
At this time, there exists in Europe an agita
ting conflict between the advocates of human
rights and the adherents of despotism. During
1.-The commissions of the French Revolution, tn
minds of men were awakened to sense of tn
expressions of their rulers, and to an examina
ton of their civil rights and the obligation o
obedience to arbitrary power. During that pc
rlod a new generation sprang up, not only ii
France, but throughout Europe, which deeply
nbibed the spirit of liberty, and is now actively
engaged in prSpagating it. This excites the ap
prehensions of emperors, kings and princes, o
danger to the continuance OF their power, and
feeling a common interest, they have systema-
TIED all their efforts to crush it. In conjunc.
ton with military force, to check and keep it
down, as in Poland and Italy, they have avail
ed themselves of an alliance with the Church OF
Rome, to efftctuate their neflriuns designs. 1t
is their detcrminate purpose to eStirpate re Iu0 l.
can liberty, if possible from the face OF the earth
This country is too remote from them, for di-
rect coercive acts, by an armed force tits, in
fact. as thew conceive the only and chief Obsta-
Gle in the way of achieving their triumph over
liberal principles. Therefore, IN order to ac-
compIish this object in these United States, they
find that they must exclusively rely on some
agency, that can operate by moral and rcli-
eious influence on the public mind. That we
may fully understand, in this point of view, how
well the Hierarchy of Papal Rome is adl7tei for
a political lever, in the hands of Prince Meter
mich and the Holy Alliance, to effect their OBJ
iect, we must look only for a moment into its
interior organization.
We find that in the education of young men
for the priesthood, and in all their Summaries,
both male and female, there is instilled in the
mind an implicit obedience and reverence for
ecclesiastical superiors. as conscientious duty,
enioined by divine authority. Whatever man
dates issue from the Vatican at Tome, are al
ways faithfully executed, as the commands OF
duty itself. Whatever these Ray be, they are
taught to believe that it would be sinful to qles
ton the obligation to perform them. BY these
means, the priests become willing and prompt
agents to carry into effect any plans, without
themselves knowing the object of them. they
are unconscious instruments, but the more faith
ful, in the hands of the Court of Rome, which
is inimical to free inquiry, and of course willing
ly co-opsrates with the Holy Alliance in its
measures for the destruction OF civil liberty.
Again. The priests are forbidden to marry,
and to raise families, lest they might acquire a
local interest, in the country, where they are
stationed; they also might become entangIed in
ties Of relationship and sympathy with the COM
munity in which they live; which would render
them less ready and free at all times, AMI at any
moment, to act exclusively in thu service Of
their supariors. Matrimony would be incom-
sistent with the disenSaged condition, which is
the great design of celibacy, to enable III. p'iest
as a soldier OF the Pope, to be ever ready t. ex-
ecute his orders. Thus The priests, monks, and
nuns, compose in fact the army OF foreign po-
tentate, to fulfil his high behesis, a reli sious
duty, and to look up to hun for promotion in
dignity or office; fur in the Court Of Rome, the
Pope, being the supreme head Of the Oh lrch, is
the sole fountain of honor as well as of authority
When we examine tbs subject little further,
we are struck with the undeniab!e fact, that
two-hirds at least of the priests in this country,
are foreigners: Italians, SPanilrds, Beigans, bat
a major part from Ireland; who have no natural
lies to this country, and have no sentiments
feelings in common with the American citiz en-
They are ordered to take charge of 4 congregl-
ton, without consulting the members o! 1t; but
are set over them by the authority of the Pope.
They are commissioned to be their spiritual
guides; to hear confessions; to grant dissolution
and impose penances, and to administer the last
sa, rament which is considered essential TO the
consolation of the dying penetent in the Romish
faith.
Although in this country, every person has
night to hold any creed he chooses, and although
we are apt to follow that OF our foreiathers, /
deem it my privilege as American citizen, to
examine how any religious sect may prostitute
its ordinances, rites or sacraments to temporal
and political purposes. l allude to the prayers
anC masses for the dead, which the Church of
Rome teaches ITS votaries, are necessary for the
deiiverancc Of departed souls from PuTgatory.
Services, of which some INDECENT survivors OF
deceased relatives have complained, as a lr-
then; because they could not be obtained without
pecuniary compensation; it being the bounden
duty of the Priest to exact 1t, though he might
be charitably disposed TO remitit. We may zee,
in the Registers Office, requests by will, for this
purpose, by deceased members of the Romsh
Church, and when the deceased had no property
or died intcstate, the surviving relatives cal.
led on to contribute for the repose of the soul of
the deceased. Can airy one say or calculate,
what may be the probable amount which the
Church levies on her members in this way? The
members of the Church of Rune compose but
small portion of the population of the United
States, yet we see that she erects more splenlid
edifices for public worship than any other sect,
and holds much property, and Is daily acquiring
more. This demonstrates accumulation of
power and pecuniary resources, in the hands of
single uupat ried men. mostly foraipners with