The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-25
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM POSITION OF ARCH
BISHOP HUGHES.

pAodOr dOUdES.
The editor of the New York Tribune, who
has hard work to maintain the fundamental
principles of Civil and Religious Liberty, and
at the same time avoid offence to the large
mass of naturalzed Irish of the Catholic faith.
whose vote in New York is apt to be decisive
in party struggle, has lately been question
ing with profound respect the position of
Archbishop Hughes in relation to the subject
of Religious Freedom.
~ '~"' thN n.Hlo.~ ~"',~Naa Cos an, answer
addressea y the " HqF Hc~""e 'freetey@,
r...vogh the CD. ., me wen 10, .1<5-,
and Enquirer medium Of communication Sc
lected, probably on account of its hostility to
the cause of Hungary, and of European Revo-
luton Generally.
The position of the Archbishop, as defined
by himself is in conflict with the Principle of
Religious Freedom, recognised in the Federal
Constitution and in the institutions of this
country, and, if sanctioned by American Cath
olics the conclusion is unavoidable, that, what
ever their apparent or temporary political as
sociations, in the groundwork of their belief
they are not Republicans.
Mr.. Greeley replied to Mr.. Hughes correct
ing with great tenderness what he believes to
be the errors and sophistrics of that gentleman,
and pleading in rather a deprecatory tone the
cause of Religious Freedom
We are far from thinking with Mr. Greeley
that Archbishop Hughes yields more power
than any other living man but were this the
fact, we see not why it should bate the
breath or bend the knee of any American citi-
zen who chooses to arragn the soundness of
his opinion. In this country, People and Pre-
lates occupy the same level. Some persons may
group themselves into secret societies, affect
royal titles and splendid apparel; it is an inno-
cent amusement: in the concerns of real life,
in all social and political relations, they are
but men, equal in rights and dignity. Their
highest title, if any higher than that of man be
possible, is that of an american citizen. Other
people form themselves into religious societies;
some delight in being called Rabbi, Doctor,
Reverend, Right Reverend, Bishop Arch
bishop-but their titles like their gowns, make
them neither more nor less than men. We re-
spect the manhood of the honest laborer, who
lays no claim to authority over anybody but
himself, as much as that of Mr.. Hughes, styled
an Archbishop and announced by Horace
Greeley as possessing more power than any
living man. We call him Mr.. Hughes, not in
| disrespect, but it is time for Americans in their
social and political intercourse to have done
with those high-sounding titles, which foster
pride on one hand and servlity on the other
Mr.. Hughes may exercise what power he
pleases in his own church; enjoy as many
| titles as his spiritual flock may choose to con-
| fer upon him That is his and their business
not ours We would no more intermeddle
with such matters than with the royal and
sublime dignities and titles which our Masonic
fellow-citizens bestow upon each other. But,
| in the eye of the Federal Constitution, in the
view of the Law, in the ordinary intercourse
| of daily life, he is nothing but plain John
Hughes or, to use the common prefix of every
adult male in the Union Mr.. Hughes.
Now, as this gentleman is supposed to pos
sess great influence over the Catholic mind of
this country, is believed to understand and rep
resent the principles and spirit of the Catholic
and learning, it may be of interest to our read
ers to see an exposition from his own pen, of
his views of Religious Liberty.
al. As regards myself" he says, al claim to
be friend of civil and religious liberty in sense
more Just and true-that is, in my opinion, Of
course-than any which you are in the habit
| of attaching to those words God is the author
of truth. The Devil is the father of lies
| am not sure that you believe in the existence
| of devil, but certainly you cannot deny the
existence of falsehood. Now, in my opinion,
your system of religious liberty goes to put
God and the Devil truth and falsehood, on the
same level You hold it as religious right no
less sacred to deny God, if man thinks proper,
than 10 worship him and hence, you implicitly
deny to God himself the right to impose on
man the obligation of worship, for that would
take away the freedom of his right to be an
| Atheist
| 90 deny, with the Catholic Church. any
right of one man, by physical coercions, to COM
pei the conscience of another man. Hence,
therefore am opposed to all penal laws having
the coercion of conscience for their object In
countries which are already divided and broken
up into religious sects, mutual liberation. kind
ness, and good will, in all the civil and social
relations of life, constitute at once, in my
opinion, the duties and the rights of all But
| am not aware that Protestant State, such
as Sweden, is bound, by way Of granting re-
ligous liberty, to place Atheism on the same
footing as Lutheranism Neither am of opin-
ion that the Sovereign Pontiff, whose subjects
are entirely Catholic and united in belief is
bound to throw his State open for the preach
ing of every form of Professionalism and Inf
deity. As spiritual head of the Catholic
Church ON earth, he is bound to preserve the
Revelation which has Christ for its author. To
encourage opposition to that religion would be
to take sides with the father of lies and am
sure, sir, that you would hardly expect the Pope
to 60 so far Besides rs a temporal prince, ne
knows the horrors of civil war which have
desolated other countries, sprngng out of the
ambitions of religious sects, each struggling for
political ascendency in the State. But besides
all this he knows that il is fundamental ar
ticle of the Protestant religion TO believe that
he is Antlchrlst Liberty of conscience, there
fore, in your sense, would require that the Pope
should become directly n party to the introduce
ton Of every species Of error and impety, ana
the overthrow of his own authority both aS
Temporal Prince and Sovereign Pontrn'
81 But you say that inasmaeh ~ reigious
freedom in your sense il allowed TO CathohcS
in Protestant countries, the Pope ought TO re-
ciprocate by throwing the Ponuhcai States