The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08

uluerent concessions MADE 10 roman OaInOllCS
by that body are mainly due to such testimony.
And, let it be remembered, that this was in
Great Britain, in British Parliament, where
the members were of the established church !;
and also that, without special permission, no
man in that Empire had right to worship God
according to the dictates Of his own conscience;
and none, not acknowledging in the monarch
of England imam or woman, King or Queen)
both temporal and spiritual sovereignty, could
hold an Office under Government, or sit in the
Parliament of the nation.
We, Mr.. Chairman, are legislating for coun-
try where even liberation may be deemed in
tolerant where perfect equality of rights is the
theory of the Government, and where until
now, no one has ventured to manifest hostility
to another's creed, by denying to him the right
of national Office, and of enjoying all tho rights
which full and perfect citizenship confers.
But the honorable gentleman from Massa-
| chusetts seems to have provided himself against
| such proof as l have adduced. He admits nv
| fealty to the country, but denies my adherence
to the Roman Catholic Church. He admits that
France and Spain have discaimed the doctrine
against which he speaks, and which he imputeS
| to the Roman Catholic Church France and
Spain, the titles of whose monarchs are most
Christian and most Catholic The honorable
gentleman surely cannot be ignorant that such
Universities, great theological colleges as those.
are repositories of records of faith, and Of the
| arguments and decisions concerning them. But
let us hear the honorable gentleman:
"Mr BANKS. plant myself upon the ground
that the Pontiif of Rome has never, in any au-
thorltative form, so disavowed the right to con-
troll the members of the Roman Catholic Church
in secular matters. know the Universities of
France and Spain have disclaimed that power.
hoe ~, LII. J.
have diselaimed it to him. SO my Catholic
friends have disclaimed it to me. But they
have not the right to private opinion, much less
the right to determine the faith of their church.
That is the right of Protestants. The Roman
Church has never disclaimed it,
pass over the slur about private judgment;
| it is undeserved, and might be retaliated. The
honorable gentleman then suspecting that Lay
men, Priests, and Bishops would declare that
| the church had no such articles of faith as he
| imputes, and being informed of the existence
of those responses of the French and Spanish
Universities, throws himself upon the Pope
a. plant myself says he, " on the ground
that the Pontiff of Rome has never, in any au-
thoritative form, so disavowed the right to con-
| troll the members Of the Roman Catholic Church
in secular affairs" Very we'll. He plants him
self on what he calls fact. Let us see how
men to Priest, from Priest to Bishop, from
Bishop to Archbishop, from Archbishop to Uni
versities. These are all against the honorable
gentleman, and, accepting the invitation or
challenge of the gentleman from Massachusetts,,
let us plant ourselves upon the Pope himself,
the Pope and his conclave of Cardinals.
Mr.. Chairman, the same circumstances which
induced that great statesman, Mr.. Pitt, to adj
dress the six Catholic Universities, led the
Roman Catholic Archbishops of Ireland to ad
dress the Pope himself on the subject, and the
answer was as clear and explicit as those of the
Universities. Solemn deliberation was given
in the congregation of Cardinals, and the re-
spouse was made i'll the most formal manner
as declaring the doctrine of the Catholic Church
on the subject involved in the questions.
copy from an authentic report:
"The Roman Catholic Archbshops Of Ire
land, at their meeting'in Dublin, in 1871, ad-
dressed a latter to the Pope, wherein they de-
scribed the misrepresentation that had been
recently published of their conservation oath,
and the great injury to the Catholic body ari.
sing from them.
"Afer due deliberation at Rome, tho con-
gregation of Cardinals appointed to superintend
the ecclesiastical affairs of these Kingdoms, re-
turned an answer (of which the following is an
extract) by the authority and command of his
holiness:
Most HluStriouS and most Reserend Lords
and Brothers,:
awe perceive, from your late letter, the great
uneasiness you labor under since the publica
ton of a pamphlet entitled The present State OF
the Church Of Ireland, from which our detract-
ors have taken occasion to renew the old cal
jimmy against the Catholic religion with in
~ a
IS by no means compatible icM the safety Of
Kings and Republics; because, as they say the
Roman Pontif being the ftither and master OF
all Catholics, and INFESTED ,cih such great au-
MOrity that he can free the subjects Of other
Kingdoms from their fidelity and oaths Of ale
gidnce to Kings and Princes; he has it in his
power, they contend, to cause disturbances and
injure the public tranquility of kingdoms, with
ease We wonder that you could be uneasy at
these complaints, especially after your most
excellent brother and apostolical fellowlaborer,
the Archbishop of Cashel, and other strenuous
defenders Of the rights of the Holy See, had
evidently refuted and explained away these
slanderous reproaches in their celebrated wri-
tings. In this controversy, most accurate
discrimination should be made between the
genuine rights of the Apostolical See, and those
that are imputed to it by innovators of this age,
for the purpose of eliminating. The See Of
Bone necer taught that faith IS not 10 be kept
,cith the heterodor 4: that an oath 10 Kings sep
drated from the Catholic communion, can be
riolated: that IL is lartul for the Bishop of
Rome to inrade tier temporal rights and do
nainions We too, consider an attempt or design
against the life of Kings and Princes, euen
,u'der the pretert Of religion, as horrid and
detestable crime.
AT the very commencement of the vet in
FAINT Church, blessed Peter, Prince of the Apos-
ties, instructing the faithful, exhorted them in
these words BE ye subject TO ecery human
creature for Gods sake, ,ohether az be to the King
as ercetting, or to gorernOrS as sent by him for
the punishment Of eril doors, and for the praise
Of the good: for so is the ,oW Of God, that by
doing sceU yOu may silence the ignorance Of
foolish men. The Catholic Church being direct
ed by these precepts, the most renowned cham.
pions Of the Christian name replied to the
Gentiles, when raging against them, as enemies
of the Empire, with furious hatred: zoe are con-
stantly praying (Tertulian in Apologet, chap.
xxx that all the Emperors may enjoy long
life, quiet government, loyal household, brace
army, faithful Senate, an honest people, and
general tranquility. The Bishops of Rome,
successors of Peter, have not ceased to inculcate
this doctrine, especially to missionaries, lest
any Ill will should be excited against the pro-
fessors of the Catholic faith in the minds of
those who are enemies of the Christian name.
We pass over the illustrious proofs of this fact,
preservedsin the records Of ancient Roman
Pontiffs, of which yourselves are not ignorant.
We think proper, Notwithstanding, to remind
you of late admonition of the most wise Pope
Benedict XIV, who, in his regulations for the
English missions, which are likewise applicable
to you, speaks thus: The Uicars apostolic are
10 take diligent care that the missionaries behare
on all occasions toih integrity and decorun,,