Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-04-28
rs. Question CT Catholic Allegiance.

In rrply TO a letter Of enquiry from Alr. james
I.y",. III til. city, the Rev. Jnfn MrGif.
shop OF the Catholic Dlocea.e OF Rehmod.
has Written the follow lna letter. csnyh = the
iipn,aiions against his Clutch ot d h,i ale
.,ance 10 The stale bishop McGll is q Ken
luck ian /, ti,l, and lsmll,, the South.
rfn nan, schUlat, aud Christian, as
sloausa, AID impressive in the PULPIT, as
ia il f.iiseiua, dl2l,ti,d aud ,rvou. lu his pri
y.te walk and go lvefst,ieC, Tha.e who enI'y
sis peI,onal acquaintance are VI y loss whether
uusi 10 admire his Ghasat,sg as Christian, or
asa Eenl.snan and parrot.
R,cnMcsp, Va. Arril, 10. 1855
Dear Sll:-The letter which you have all
Lf.sse 10 he eoiAains three qnesiehs, 10
which you ark an answer, with View TO pua.
icatioG.
Eirs, O ,ss!iou .Whalher the Catholics in
Virginia 80 sckn ~ ledge any ,mp9ia silse'-
slce 10 he Prpr!'
To ,h,.. answer that, unless there bs in
Nngliia some l'al,sus who owe aIies Ianeo 10
the Pore AS temporal primes because 'hey
we're born in his States, and are MT paim sizrd
.i,z-ns q. This county, iheis ARE 40 Calh''ies
~ Virginia whn Owe ur acknoM ledge any lem
portl atala nee Ia the Pope.
Ssond Question. "Wheil,ar, Hihls conniry
rmil he ail was a>sailed and invaded by the
army of The Pope q he hii one.l N hy any
other Catholic power, the cilzrns vi lhis cum.
try, no mat CT where born. wonld rot lie as
much baonI to delead ihs Flag ii America her
rights a',d liberty, as any nallYe'boih cliizsn
would De r.
An,aer: To me the hypohesi, Of an inva.
sion OF our connty by the Pope seems an All.
surdi,y: bu. should he con,e wlih armies 10 rs
,.b!ish temporal deminipn here, or should any
other Catli0i.c p1wsr mike snch an attempt, 1t
IL my uonyiclon that all Cathode ciiizens. IN
matter where barn, who en,ay the behes anu
franchises Of the Consitaiivp. would le CON
srirl,,iotsy bound, ike native bonn eillzns, 10
defend lie h,g, rights and l,helles Of The 10
public, aud rrpel sura inYssau
Thru Question. ..Whrther he performance
ofthat duty would conl.cI ailh an oath, or vow
u other obligation OF The Ca'hon!
Answer. Catholics. teafa,i III The church MS
such. have MT tie co-;on Of taking any oiuh'
or vows. except The tap,I-nal '""s ito lenohnee
tho Devil, his wo,ks anI pomps' Persons
convere, to faith, or those receiving deEiees III
Theology, may be r-Quiled 10 lake the oath
contaiu,sl in ila creed y! Pu- w. vi oo-dlr CT
TO The Pope, which as tIr rs hnow has Away
been unels oi and nic, pfeted Ia s,aulfs d
piri,ual ohe,ilence Ia him a. head oil the Church
and mol oh diencs 10 him as a Temporal Prince
Bishops, OF their cunseeialion, also tahe al
oath which, n our rnniiiy, Is different iron
the old form used in Europe. bni hone Of 'hes,
sows. nalhs and no other obligation ol whicl
| am aware. conthets wiki the duty OF actlzst
Of The United STATE. Ia defend tho n.g aud. lb
critics vi his country.
In conclusion, allow me 10 state that as VI
have no a,licle of faith teaching that the Pore
OF disine.fghi, enjoys temporal power heas
OF the Caurch, whaleyer so,ns lheo!pgians or wi
tiers may have said IN this point. must, like IN.
answers to your iuqulriss, be considered as "Ph'
ions Tor ~hch The writer's themselves only car
be held responsible.
Yon!s, Very truly, &C.,
J. McGlLL. Bishop Of Richmond,
To- JAs. LYON, Esq