True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-05-23
The Oath Of Roman Catholn Bishop

The Oath of a Roman Catholic Bishop.
The newly elected Bishop Of Portland
was recently consecrated ia New York,
with ceremonies imposing and impressive.
The following was the oath taken and su b
scribed to by the Bishop elect;
81, N, elect of the Church of n, shall
from this hour henceforward, be obedient
to the blessed Peter. the Apostle, and to
Holy Roman Church, and to the most
blessed father Pope Plus TX, and to his
successors economically chosen. / shall as
sist thom to retain and defend against any
man whatever the Roman Pontifeate, with
out prejudice to my rank. | shall seek
to Preserve, defend and promote the rights,
donors, privileges ond authority of the
Holy Roman Church, of the Pope and of
his successors, as aforesaid. With my
whole strength shall observe, and cause
to be observed by others, the rules of the
holy fathers, the DEGREES, ordinances, or
di7pensations and mandates of the Apostol-
ic See. When called to Synod, shall
conc, unless be prevented by canon
ical impcdiment. I shall personally visit
the Apostolic See once every ten years,
and render an account to our most blessed
father (the Pope) and his successors, as
aforesaid, of my whole PASTORAL office, and
of every thing in any way appertaining to
the state of my Church, to the discipline
of the clergy and people, and to the sal
walton of souls committed to my care; and
I shall humbly receive, in return, the apos-
tolic mandates, and diligently execute
them. But if I be prevented by lawful
impediment, l shall perform all things
aforesaid by certain messenger especially
authorized for this purpose, priest of the
diocese, or by some other secular or regq-
lar priest of tried virtue and piety, well
instructed on all subjects. shall not sell,
nor give away, nor mortgage, enfeoff anew,
nor in any way ALLEVIATE the possessions be-
longing to my table, without the leave of
the Roman Pontiff. And should | pro-
cccd to any alienation of them, l am will
ing to contract, by the very act, the pen.
alties specified in the Constitution publish
ed on this subject"
Of course, it is impossible for our read
ers to understand the full force and mean
ing of this oath, for when the Bishop says
he will "preserve, defend and promote the
rights, honors, privileges and authority of
the Holy Roman Church, of the Pope and
his successors" we must first know what
privileges and authority are claimed by
the Pope. There is one clause, however,
which all may understand, and We direct
attention to its connection with an article
penned by US a few days since, headed,
Property in the hands of Bishops" The
Bishop elect swears as follows:
Il shall not sell, nor give away, nor
mortgage, enfeaff anew, nor in any way
ALLEVIATE the possessions belonging to my
table, without the leave of the Roman
Pcntiff."
In onr article referred to we showed that
the property which had been decided in
trust by Bishop Rappc, could not be dis
posed Of in any manner without the con-
sent Of that Bishop, and now by this oath
it appears that American Bishops cannot
in any manner dispose of it, or even en-
cumber their church property, without
leave from the Pope. 1t is high time that
our Legislatures say to the Pope "hands
off, The property in this country thus
virtually under the control of a foreign
potentatc i; told by its millions in value,
and year after year but adds to the enor-
nous wealth of the Roman Catholic
Church. The pope retains his seat by the
aid and support of French bayonets; and
thus Church property in this country is
indirectly subj ct even to tho Emperor of
France, for of course the Pope must do
the will of those who hold him upon his
throne. There is something humiliating
in thus con'cn.ing to holl property subject
to the bidding of a fJrei IN monarch and
if such Is permitted, the renouncing of
call allegiance to every foreign Priest,
Potcntatc and Power" as by the oath of
allegiance every naturalized citizen swoars
to do, is mere mo,kcry, and has no bind
ing force Cleveland Herald.
--~s0St-
BERosotta Armstead, the Slave girl,
who formerly belonged to the Rev. Mr.
Denson, started on journey, last week
to the far of green hills Of New England
At the time she was taken away from the