Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-04-24
MONDAY MORNING, April. 20, 1855.
THE ASSERTED TEMPORAL POWER OF TIE
POPE

The know- -Nothlngs oil Virginia nave P'"'.N
themselves i'll the most ridiculous and aiscTed!t"ne
position they have shown themselves 10 be the i'S'
arrant towards, frightened ut the merest s'au'"'
There only 1000 Catholics i'll Virginia. a'lu o'''
S0U,U00 Protestants--and yet the kn""-->"''''I n,
alarmed lest the 1000 should swallow up Tue '"'''
Truly, rs Major James Garland reiiarkcd'
reverse the narrative oi the Bible Tor II "ou'u
thing less than Jonnk swa'iowsmg me """". ~
ncplt 10 trcnt this subject in any other hSh' ""''
lint ~, lev;tv md ridicule. But since tho alarming
t,otb,,c influence, and the orcrmh'Im:hS temporal
,o,vsr ot tho Pope of Rome, have been made promi'
men, issues i'll the present contest, we deem II our
duty to reuts the absurd and grOundless idcn
facts from tho records of past and present History
We shall first quote at length declaration {" tie
Englis: Catholics in l7S9, utterly reutng the know-
Nothing theory OH the subject OF the tenporalp"wcr
and influence of the Pope. When we see Caho-
l.s under the monarchical institutions of Eng
land, proclaimng that they arc entirely free from
temporal allegiance to the Pope, is it not absurd f"
witness the hypocrtical alarm expressed on this point
by KNOWN othings in our own country, where rc
zion is free and where Truth is left 10 combat Error
The following we extract from Recs' Encyclopedia,
under the head OF "Papists'
The Declaration and Prottstation .Stgncd by tie
English Catholics az lI&'.
We whose names arc hcreuuro subscribed, Catholics
of England, do freely, voluntarily, and OF our own
accord, make tho following solemn DECLARATION aud
prutcs,atiou.
Whereas sentiments unfnvorable to as, as citizens
ani subjects have been entertained by English lrntes-
ants account ot principles which arc asserted 70 hc
maintained bv rs and other Catholics, and which prn-
cplrS are dangerous Ia society. and totally rrpuguat
TO political and civil liberty 1T Is duty thar E" the
English Catholics. owe to "ur country as we" ~ l"
ourselves to protest, i'll formal and solemn manner
a. Iis, doctrines that nc condemn, anu that coiisii'
part whatever ot our principles. religion, OF
belief.
w, are the moro anxious 10 free ourselves from
such inputatGns, because divers Pr1testantS, whu
profess themselves 10 be- real friends 10 liberty OF con
science have nevertheless, avowed themselves hos.
tile u.s. of certain opinions which wcare
supposed TO hold. And we do not blame those Pro-
testants for their hostility it II proceeds las we hope
it does not from an intolernn spirit in matters Of re-
lon, but from their being lnisnformcd as TO matters
OF fact
Ii it were true, that zoe, the English Catholics had
adopted the maXilns that erruneously imputed 10
us we acknowledge that should merit the reproach
of being dangerous enemies TO the state but, de-
test those unchrlsau-likc and cxccrable maxns !:
und me scverallv claim, IN common with men "t I'LL
o,cr religions, matter of nataru Justice that wc,
the Engsh Catholics, ought not tn suffer for or ON
account Of any wicked Or erroneous doctrines that
may be held by any other Catholics, which doctrines
,cc publicly disclnn any than British Prutestants
ought to be rendered responsible for any dangerous
doctrines that may be held by any other Protcstants,
which doctrines they, the British Protestants, disa.
Frst We have been accused Of holding, q. n prin-
cple Of our religion that princes exconimunicaed
by the Pope and council, or by authority Of the See
of Rome may be dcposed or murdered by their sub
icc,s, III other persons.
But. 30 fur is the above mentiancd upGhristan like
and abominstle position from being principle that
bold that reject, abhor and detst It, aud every
part thereof, as eIecrabe and imPlous: and zee uo
solcunly declare, that neither the Pope, either with
or without general council, nor any prelac, nor any
assembly Of prclates priests nor any ecclesiastical
power whatever, can absolve the subjects Of this
majesty King George the Third, who s, by authority
of parliament, the lawful king Of this realm, and of
nl the doriinions thereunto belonging.
Second, We have also been accused of holding, as
principle Of religion, that implicit obedience is
due from us to the orders md dccrees Of Popes and
general councils and thGt therefore il tho Pope.
any general council should for the good Of the
church, command us to take up arms against govern
ment or by any means to subrert the laws and lber
ties of this country, or to cxermnatr persons of
difcont persuasion from us, are lit is asserted by our
hold ourselves bound to obey such orders
or decrees on pain OF eternal tire
Whereas, ne positively deny that ws owe any such
to the Pope and general council or TO
itself immoral or dishonest can ever be lustiitd by
or under color that it is done either for the good Of
the church. or in obedience to any ecclesiastical power
We acknowledge no nallibility in the
Pope and ire neither apprehend nor believe thu. our
disobrdience to any such orders or degrees ahoEld
any such be given or made could subject us to any
punishment whatever. And sc hold and insist TINT
the Catholic church has no power that can, directly
or indirectly prejudice the rights OF lrncsanid uas
much as is strictly confined to the refsnc Ia them
nip in hprs
privileges o her communion, which no cliIrch tas we
couceye can lie expected to give to those out ct her
palc and which mo person out OF her PALE will, we
suppose, ever require.
AND ne do sulomny declare, that no church, nor
any preate nor any priest, nor any assembly "l pre-
lnres or priests nor any ecclesiastical power whatever
hath, have, or ought to have any jurisdiction or au
thory whatsoever within this realm that can, directly
or indirectly affect ornerere with the independence
aovcrrirnty, laws constitution, government there
Of or tho rights, liberties persons, or properties OF
the people of the said realm, any OF them, save
only aud except by the authority of parliament and
that any such assumption of power would be an u"'lr
patton.
TAt,d, We have likewise been accused of holding,
principle OF our religion, that the Pope, by virtue
OF hie spiritual power can dspeuse with TIE gbla-
tons OF any CchrGc O. oG:h taken entered into by
catholic: that therefore uo oath Of allegiance, or
other oath, can bind ts and consequently, that gc
can give no security for our allegiance to any govern
meni
There can he no doubt bur that this cGnclusion
would hp just, II The original proposition upon which
Is founded were true bWt &c positively deny that
are do hold any such principle. And yc do soeninly
declare that neither the pope nor any preHto, nor any
priest, nor any assembly of prelatas priests, nor
any cc'lesIa7tica power whatever abs0lve III, or
any ot us, from, or dispense with the obligations OF
any compact or oath whatsoever.
Fourih, We have alsn beBn accused of holding, rs
pr.nciplc of our religion, that only the pope, but
even Catholic priest has the power to pardon the
sins of Catholics at his will and pleasure, and, there
fore, that no Catholic can possibly give en- security
for his allegiance to any sGvGrn:cut, inasmuch rs the
rnre o.. Irest can pG:don priiary. rebellion, and
high trt&JCn
We acknowledge, also, the business of this conclu-
sion, If the proposition upon which 1t In founded were
not totally false. But are do solemnly declare, that
on the contrary, believe that sin whatever can
be forgiven at the will Of any pope or OF any prieat
or Of aiY person Th0msseTeri bE That sincere s"r-
row for pdst sin q firm resolution to GVQid future
uilt, aud prery possible aopeinent to and ard the
injured Rcishb0r, are the previous and Indispensable
regulates to establish weiounded expectation OF
forgiveness.
Fitth, And wC have also been accused of holding,
principle of our religion that no fnth lis tn be
kept with heretics;' SO that no government which Is
tot Catholic eau have any security from Hs Tor our al-
l-gnnce and peaceable behavior.
This doctrine, that faith is not TO be kept with her
c,ics ne reject reprobnte and GthQr rs LcNg >Cn-
tray to religion morality, aad con,lG0n honesty
md do hold and solennly declare thnt no breach
"i ia!ih with any person whorS"ever eau ever be
justified Ly reason of or under pretcncc that such
re.snn Is an hereto or IN intdcl.
:, Aud ~c further splemny declare, TINT ~c do make
,h ms Declaration and Protestaiion, aud every part
IN the plain and ordinary sense of the words
% ."c same, without any evasion, equvocalon, or
''"I' ,u reservation whatsoever
f.ilnr ,I We appeal to the Justice and candor Of our
rho ,I,s whether ,c the English Catholics,
Iar ,h n'einuIy dscnim, and from our hearts ah
lm,ns'rles, ought to be put level with
ciples. "'' ''0 p'''e'' '''''
The above Declaration and pro,o..s,;or w,, ,;pn
ed by thousand seven bundreJ ond f,riv nr,nna.
including several peurs, aud two huulred and forty.
one rlergYmep Of the Catholic religion.