Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-08-08
RESTORATION OF THE POPE.

IL Is curious, and instructive, i'm n hiph degree
10 observe The impressions made upon the Romans
themselves ny the prospect of the return ofthe Pope
brought back by foreign bayonets We can iudy,
of it by a letter from Father Ventura. which hs,
appeared IN several French newspapers In order
10 understand this letter in all its bearings il is ne
cessary 10 recollect that the author is distinguished
Tor MS knowledge and eloquence, and ono of tho
most esteemed Of the Roman priests.
AS ms letter is rather long, we only COPY the
most important passages, and those which prove
That nothing could give more serious blow to tho
| spiritual potcer Of The Pope. than the means which,
have been taken to re-esiabsh his temporal power.
CIvrrA VEccHA, June 18th, I849.
''.Hy rery Dear Friend and Brother-It is with
tears and a broken heart that now write to YOU.
whist trace these lines, the French Soldiers are
oonbardng Rome, destroying its monuments. firing
upon ITS citizens, and blood flows in torrents on ev-
cry side We fear that if the French enter Rome
oy assault the people in their rage will suffer them
serves to involve all the priests and all religious
persons IN general massacre History informs
us that IN general, reservations effected by force aro
not permanent, and that thrones raised upon dead
oooles and IN blood will soon be ovethrown by more
violent shocks
But that which troubles every Catholic, is, that
II this restoration takes place without establishing
hrmy The power of the prince it will interfere with
ana perhaps destroy the authority of the pontif,
ana mat each discharge of cannon in damaging tho
lie faith in the hearts Of the Romans | have told
you OF the horrible impression that the "sugar pums
OF Plus lX. sent 10 his children" Gas the cannon
balls were called had produced upon the Roman
people, and of the hatred they had excited against
the priests. But all this is nothing i'm compatison
with the anger which the sigh, of the French bombs
has excited against the Church. and even against
the Catholic religion. These bombs, falling for the
most part In the Transevere, that portion of the
homan people, particularly, WIN formerly were
such stroh$ catholics are now cursng and bias
pheming the Pope and the clergy
81 am far from believing that Plus TX. Wishes al,
these Things, or that he even knows of them But
what know and believe, The Roman people know
not and believe not. They know and believe only
what they see and what they suffer by the move
ment t. restore him To his power in Rome. The
Roman people see that the Austrans, with pre-
late Of the Pope( Nlonsignor Bedn) in their midst.
are ravaging the country, bombarding the cities,
burdenlng the most peaceable citizens with enor-
nous taxes, banshing or shooting the most ardent
patriots, and re-establlshlng, every where, alb
in the name of the Pope, shedding Roman blood
and destroying The city of Rome they see that is
The Pope who has sent four powerful nations arm
ed with all the implements of destruction, against
the Roman States, like pack of hounds let loose
upon wild beast; and from that time thew hear
nothing more, they raise themselves against the
Pope and the Church, in the name and in tbe
interest OF which the Pope proclans that it is his
duty to re-conqner by force his temporal power
From this You will easily understand that tho
churches have been pundered. The people no lon
ger wish 10 confess, nor TO commune nor TO take
part IN the mass, nor 10 hear the word of God No
one breaches in Rome for want of hearers For nv
SELL believe Plus TX. is still the vicar of Jesus
Christ, the head of the Church, The nfallible inter
prefer OF the rules of faith and of morals The
weaknesses and the faults even of the man, do not
make me forget that he has the high prerogaiives
OF the pontiff; but the people comprehend this
Cah they arse and stop at these theological dis
tlnctonss Alas! in the minds of the people, that
which is called the crimes and cruelties of The man.
are the crmee and cuelties of the priest the faults
OF the KING are the faults of the Pope the namies
OF the politician are the effect of the religious doc
trieS.
My friends here conceal from me ali that is sai
and done at Rome. They wish to spare me tho
great grief that it would cause me. Notwihstand
ing this, have just learned that at Rome al, the
youth and men of any education are of opinion that
the Pope wishes 10 reign them by force tha,
he wishes for the church for the priests the SOW
erelgnty which belongs only TO the people and he
believes that Is his duty 10 thus, because thew
are Catholics, and because Rome is the centre Of
Catholicism All! well what prevents us from
renouncing Catholicism, and becoming Pro,es,ants
IT necessary? And then what political right could
the Pope oppose to u.s. for is it not horrible to ihak
j that because we are Catholics and sons of the
church, 1t is necessary to be by the church!
10 ahure all our rights, TO expect from the liberal
y of the priests that which is due TO MS by istice
and to be condemned TO the fate of the mos. mister
r able people.
s 81 have learned also that these sentiments have
n become more general than one would believe thai
g they are held even by the women. THIS twenty
n years of labour That have given for the purpose Of
II uniting the Roman people more firmly TO the church
n are lost in few days Thus, that which have
toreseen, and predicted in all my letters is unfortu-
= naely accomplished, and even beyond my predic:
tons. Professionalism, indeed, finds itself implanted
in part OF this good and religious Roman people
and sad TO tell, this has happened by the conduct
of priests, and by the bad administration into
q which the Pope has been led.
q "Ah my dear friend, the idea of bishop who
ii deals destruction among the people Of his charge
J. shepherd who kills his sheep, of a father who
~ sends death upon his children of Pope who wish
e es tn reign, 10 impose himself upon three millions
lie of Christians by force; who wishes to reesablisi
AZ his throne upon ruins, dead bodies and bood-this
idea, say, is so strange, absurd, scandaous
~ horrible, contrary 10 the gospel, that there is
no people That ,cOuld not reUoH at IL, no faith that
" can hold fast toI heart that ,cM moi i,enble al
IT, it, tongue that could restrain itself from aaledic
I'd ton blasphemy. All it were thousand times
III better to lose every temporal thing. the entire
,corh, If necessary, than to girc such offence 10
ID his people.
C at is probable that Rome will yield to the attack
n, Of the French arms How resist France? Ii il
NC probable that the Pope will Rome with the
sword in his hand, and followed by the execution
E. er as if Rome Mecca, and the gospel the Ko
Or ran but he will reign in the hearts Of Ro
mans. Under his connection his reign is destroy
ed, finished for ever he will be Pope only Of pit
~ u number of faithful ones.
q "Ihe great majority will remain in fact Protest
= ants for they will longer practise the religion
y whilst their hatred for the priest is so great Our
e preaching effect nothing 1t will be impossible fo
= us to make the Catholic Church loved, iol
III Grated bv people who will have learned I'm L,t,