The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-11-03


aw, and only 10 be exercised for the spi. |
ritual interests of the Christian common
wealth. Christ claimed no such power |
when on earth, neither did he give such |
authority to ST. Peter, or his successors,
with whom be promised to remain TO the
end of time. lie said his kingdom uds not
of this rOrid, and refused to act IN The dipi-
sion of the inheritance bet,reeH tro breth-
rem, when solicited by them SO to do
There is no charge which may be broush,
against the Catholic church, or agains, her
acknowledged head, so susceptible of reiu.
taton as is this charge OF desire TO inter
fere with the laws aud liberties of the PEG
pie Of this Republic. IL is n charge which
has found ample contradiction IN The acts
and Testimonies OF the Roman Catholics o!
Europe aud America. II has teen dis
proven by the Gallician declaration Of 1852,
which was signed by all the eccleSiastics OF
France. All the English, Irish and Scotch
Catholics have disclaimed it upon oath; and
il has been rejected by five Universities on
the continent, that of Sarbonne, Louvaine,
Douay, Alcald and Salamanca. Even the
Cardinals Of The Propaganda at Rome, have
declared such doctrine 10 be horrid and
detestabie," aud contrary TO the faith of
the church.
cannot better illustrate the doctrine OF
the Catholic Church OH this point, than by
giving an extract from an address oflhe late,
ever TO be lamented, Bishop England, be.
fore the Congress of the United States, 10
1922. In treating Of lie imputed inierie.
renee of the Pope, lie says
awe recognise no such authority. |
would not allow to the Pope, nor to any
Bishop OF our church, outside this Union,
the smallest interference with the hunbes
vote al our mos. Insignificant ballot box
lie has no right 10 such Interference
l uu must, from the views which | have ia
ken, see the plain distinction between spl-
ritual authority and RICH, to interfere in
the regulations of human government or CT.
vii concerns. You have IN your consiitu-
ton wisely KEEP. them distinct and separate.
Ii will be wisdom, and prudence, and safety
10 continue the separation. Your cons,llu-
ton says tina, Congress shall have no pow
er 10 restrict the free exercise Of religion,
and should your honorable body TO morrow
enact a law TO restrict me 10 the exercise OF
my religion, would not obey ii for the law
would be unconstitutional, and consequently
an usurpaton on the part Of Congress, So
If that tribunal which Is established by the
creator TO testify to me what he has reveal
ed, and TO make The necessary regulations oil
discipline for The government Of the chuch,
shall presume to 90 beyond that bounda
ry which circumscribes its power, lis act
are invalid; my rights are not to be des-
troyed by It's usurpatons, and there is no
principle OF my creed which prevents my
using my natural right Of proper resist.
ance TO any tyran0lcal usurpaIion. gu
have no power to interfere with my rel!-
gious rights, the tribunal Of the church
has DO power TO interfere with my civil
rights. 1t is duty which every good
mao ought 10 uiscuarge Tor MS own, aHd
for the public benefit, 10 resist any en-
croachments upon either. II must he ap.
parent that any idea Of the Roman Catholics
Of these republics being IN any way under
The influence Of any foreign ecclesiastlcai
power, or indeed Of any church. authority
IN The exercise OF their civil rights, is sc.
rious mistake. There IS no class of our
fellow Citizens more free TO think and &C,
E! for themselves on the subject of cur rights
than we are, and believe there is not sapv
portion Of the American family more zeal.
GUS of foreign influence, Of more ready &c
resist ii. We have brethren oil our church
+ in every port uf the Globe, under every
form Of government. Thsis a subject up
1 on which each Of Us is free 10 act as We
4 think proper. We know Of no tribunal in
our church which can interfere in our pro.
ceedlngs as ciiIZaGs. Our seccleslasilca
/ authority existed before our constitution
IL ult affected by il; there is not in the
{ world constitution which it does mol pre-
cedc, with which II could not CO exist; Il
! has seen nations perish, dynas.ies decay
empires Frustrated; il has co existed with
alt, it has survived hem all, it is not Deepen
daat upon any Of them, they may still
change, aud il viii still continue"
How very diGerent is The language oil
Ibis divine Of the Roman Catholic church,
(sho hope Will be allowed to know the
doctrines Of his church) from that made
use Of By The editor Of the Monitor. | hope
/ he will learn wisdom when il can be found ;
and that be will study Catholic theology
from more correct source than the apos
tate Samuel B. Smith, or bis oolabosers in
the field u corruption and uilsrepresenta.
ton.
His next subterfJge consists Of an attack
on the Catholic priesthood, whom he says
have taken an oath before they are or.
daiaed, to support tho supremacy Of the
Pope" | have never before heard Of a
Catholic priest being required to take ar
oath previous to ordination, nor do be
leye such to be the case. Their mere &C
acknowledgement to the Catholic creed woulc
supergede the necessity Of such an oa'i
were il even required. There are few, j
any, Roman Catholic Priests, Bishops, OF