Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-06-30

p vi the very Salncttenoency is lS.lle:cualuctci VI
the grasping ambition and ayaricc of ecclesias-
tics in the United States, threatening to absorb
the property of the people, and perhaps to cs-
tablish a new popedem in our midst. We know
the extent of the property formerly acquired by
the clergy in Italy, in France, in Spain, and in
England; and we know that at this moment
two-thirds of the real estate of Mexico arc in
the hands of tho clergy Hence the political
degradation and misery of that country. WIFI
the Catholic Laity of tho United States permit
the same blighting influence to prostrate them
in the dust, and to sap the very foundations of
republican freedom? If they do not resist now,
it may one day, perhaps, be necessary for Con-
gress or the different State Legislatures through
out the country to curb the rampant ambition of
this spiritual despotism, which has always
sought to put the people and all civil govern
ment beneath its feet.
The Pastoral Letter states that, in days gone
by, there has been great forgetfulness of the
extent of the authority which the bishops excr-
else )" and among the melancholy causes of this
oblivion, is enumerated the attempt to apply
to the Catholic Church, in the administration of
the temporalities belonging to her, principles
and rules foreign to her spirit, and irreconcilabc
with the authority of her pastors" Well, then,
let us SEQ what this "authentic declaration"
says:
Whatever is offered to God, and aolcmnly
consecrated tc hi. service, whether it be the ma
terial temple in which his worshippers assemble,
or tho ground set apart for tho intcrment Of
those who repose in Gods field, awaiting the
promised resurrection, or property, real or per-
sonal: intended for the purpose of divine ser
vice, or for the education, support, and maintc-
nance of the clcrgy-eyery such thing is sacred,
and belongs to the church, and cannot be with
drawn from the service of God without the
guilt of sacrege The donor or donors Of
such gifts can exercise no right of ownership
over them. With these temporal things, thus
separated from common purposes, and set apart
for the service Of the sanctuary, the church
cannot allow uny interference that is not subor-
dinate to her authority The bishop Of each
diocese is the representative and organ of that
authority, and, without his sanction, no arrange
ment, howsoever in itself of = purely temporal
nature, that has reference to religious worship,
has or can have force or validity. Whenever
tho bishop deems it advisable to acqucsce in
arrangements for the administration Of church
temporalities, which have not originated with
tho ecclesiastical authority, or which may have
arisen from ignorance of its rights, or from Il
spirit of opposition to them, we declare that
such arrangements have force and effect in the
Catholic church, in consequence of such acqui-
escence, and not from any other cause or princi-
pie whatever"
This is pretty plain and candid. The bishops
and clergy have not enough of authority, and
they want more. And this, they say, has led, as
might be expected, TO the disturbance Of peace
and harmony. Nothing can be more true. From
tho beginning of the world till the present hour,
the cause of all disturbances, whether in the
family circle, the church, or the State, is the
love of power, which grows by what it feeds
upon, and ever desires more, more, more
Nearly all the intestine wars and many Of the
foreign wars that desoatcd the nations since
the introduction of christianity, have had their
origin in the desire Of the rulers Of the church
to possess more power; not that christianity is
the cause, or gives any warrant for this ambi-
ton, but, on the contrary, ignores it in every
doctrine and prcccpt of the New Testament
I" For the purpose Of guarding against the re-
currence of such evils" the bishops say, they
deem it necessary to make public and anthem
tic declaration of Catholic principles on this i'm
portant subject" In other words, they make
this innovation in the practice of tho Catholic
church in the United States-an innovation THAI
gives them enormous power, and strips the laity
ties of the churches to which they belong; and,
in order to make it go down, they call it Cath
thentic declaration" Who gave them this au-
thority, or what makes, their declaration authen-
tic in this republic? The modcsty of tho agra
rians voting themselves q farm can only afford q
parallel to the bishops voting themselves the
whole temporalities of every Catholic church in
tho United States. 1t has always been laid
down as Catholic principle that it is only q
General Council, with the Pope at its head, that
can make any authentic declaration of Catholic
principles. Individual bishops, and even assem-
blages of bishops, are liable to err and tho assem-
bIagc at Baltimore having no more exemption
from fallibility than others, we are ut loss to
know whence they derive the authenticity Of
their declaration, particularly as it is one to ag
grandize themselves Mt the expense of the laity.
Whether their declaration will have the effect
they anticipate, Of producing "pcace and har-
mony," We know not; but if it should, it would
be n sad evidence Of tho progress of spiritual
despotism, and its influence over the minds OF
tho people. 1t would be the peace of the grave,
where the independence of the laity was buried.
New York Herald.