Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-05-04
OathOt a Roman CalhOlic Bishop.

Oath-Ot a Roman Catholic Bishop.
The newly elected Bishop of Portland
was recently consecrated Ia New York,
with ceremonies imposing and impressive.
TIE following was the oatli taken and sab
scribed by the Bishop. elect;
THE OATH. 4
IN. elect of the church Of N, shall
from this hour henceforWard, be obedient
no the blessed Peter, the Apostle, and to
the Holy Roman Church, and to the most
blessed father, Pope Plus *, and to his
successors economically chosen. Il shall as
sisi them to retain aud defend against any
man whatever the Roman Pontifcaie, With
out prejudice TO my rank, shall take care
to preserve, defend, and promote the rights,
bonors, privileges and authority of tho Holy
Roman Church, of the Pope and Of his sue
cessors, as .,foresaid.g With my whole
strength / snail observe, and cause TO be
observed by others, the rules Of the holy
fathers, the dccrees, ordinances, or disposi.
tions and mandates Of the Apostolieal See.
When called 10 a synod, Ishalh come, un-
less / be preven,ed.by. "a canonical impedi-
meht / shall personally visit the Apostol-
ic See once every ten years, and render an
account to our most blessed father 1.-THE
Pope) and, his successors, as aforesaid, of
my whole pastoral Office, and of everything
in any way nppertaining 10 the state Of my
church, 10 the discipline of the clergy and
people, and to the salvation of the souls
commi ted to nv care; and shall humbly
receive, in return, the apostolic mandates,
and diligently execute them. Buff / shall
be prevented by q lawful impediment !
shall perform al the things aforesaid by a
certain messenger especially authorized for
this purpose, a priest Of the diocese, or by
some other secular or regular priestoftried
virtue and piely, well instructed on all the
above subjects / shall not sell nor give
away, nor mortgage, enfeoff anew, nor in
any way ALLEVIATE the possessions belonging
to my table, without the leave of The Ro-
man Pontif. And should proceed to any
alienation Of them, | am willing 10 contract,
By the very fact, the penalties specified in
the constitution published on this subject.
OF course, il is impossible for our readers
to understand the full force and meaning Of
this oath, for when the Bishop says be viii
"preserye, 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 priv
ileges and authority are claimed by the
, Pope. There is one clause, however, which
all may understand, and we direct attention
TO it in connection with an article penned
by ms few days since, headed property
in the hands Of Bishops" The Bishop
elect swears as follows:
Il shall not sell nor give away, nor mort
: gage, enfeof anew, DOR in any way ALLEVIATE
the possessions belonging to my table, with.
out the leave of the Roman Pontiff."
In our article referred 10, We showed
/ that The property which had been decided
, 10 trust by Bishop RAPE. could not be dis
posed Of in any manner without The consen
of that Bishop, and now by this oath it ap
j pears that American Bishops cannot in any
| manner dispose of it, or even encumbel
their Church property, without leave from
: the Pope. Il is high time that our Legis
latures say to the Pope, @hands offI" The
! property in this country thus virtually un.
: der the control of foreign polentate is told
by its millions in value, and year after yeal
but adds 10 the enormous wealth Of the Ro.
man Catholic Church. The Pope retains
his seat by the aid and support Of French
bsyonets, and thus Church property in thii
country is indirectly subject even to the
Emperor Of France. for Of course the Pope
must do the will Of those who hold him on
his Throne. There is something humilia
ting in thus consenting to hold property
subject to the bidding OF foreign monarch
) and if such is permitted, The renouncing O
: "alI allegiance to every foreign Prince, Po
: teniate and Pewer," as by the oath of allie
| glance every naturalized citizen swears 10
! IS mere mockery, and has no bindin.
/ force Cleveland Herald.
.