American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-10-04
sin hr tar Do.,n,,s Morih.

Spain must be a capital place for sinners.
Instead Of geing toile ''ancent Nicholas"
when they commit Il crime in this land of
love and olives, they go to the Pope, it
seems, for. a diIpcnsalion, pay him the
plice fixed for the offence, purchase immu-
nifty for another piece ofguIt or two in ad-
vance, and go home happy--poorer in
pocket, but infinitely richer in the luxury
Of sinful indulgences! af
ltseems unhandsomc to make remark
of this kind we admit, because it appears
to treat unjus;ly or ungonerously most
extensive church in the Christian conimu-
niou. But in The first place, we never Jest
of such serious importance; and, in the next
place, we have no wish to accuse the Ro-
man Catholics, as a church, Of what may
possibly be as new piece of intelligence
to many of its members as il is to us, tho
coming as it does, ina shape of unques-
tionpblc eredibility.
The Pope of Rome and the government
Of "I1er Most Catholic Majesty" are nc
tlonger friends, TIE Pope threatens and
Spain rebels. The one demands and the
other demurs. This accuses and that re.
lor.c. Rome talks of excommunicaiion,
and Spain points 10 the immense sums
paid per annnm by Spanish subjects into
the Golfers Of the Pope for licenses 10 sin
Nay, morc--she offers to provo the exac
amount to the world land as every real ha,
to be laid out through the embassy, whcr,
it is duly registered, the proof is not diff
cult, } and then leave it to tho common
sense of mankind what the ex, ,communi
cation of church is worth that establshe
moral laws merely to raise revenue b,
selling, to all who can afford 10 purchas,
it, the privilege of their violation.
All this looks like romance, 1t look
like a revival Of some of the stale and an
cient calumnes Of reverend debaters NOR
anxious fer Elective Arguments than IRE
futable facts. But, in the present case, tn,
government of Spain deliberately endorse
the accusation, and the official organ n
Madrid publishes the tariff of prices alix
ed by the rvre himself to each particula
kind Of iniqnity. Even tho pcrusal of Ger
tain liberaltoned books is set down as al
offence only to be indulgcd in by thopay
mcnt of a specified sum and while tn
poor are left to the tender mercy Of th
common enemy Of man in the world t
come for the slightest peccadillo, the ric1
are permitted to read "Marshalfs Life O
Washington" for instance, upon handing
over to the exehequer of the Pope abou
eleven dollars; to infringe the vows G
virginity" for twenty seven dollars, and I
do anything else that deprayed appett
may suggest for an amount in due proper
tionl 4
Decidedly, this is the most conyenier
kind Of Christianity extant. We shoul
be sorry to suppose that the Catholic cburc
in this country disposes, in this fashion
Of dispensationsfor tho perpetration of sue
flagrant social wrongs. But, that it doe
make merchandise ofits permission 10 sir
, in Spain, is beyond all question: and, tbs
the immunity is purchased of the Pop
, himself the bead of the Catholic churc
{ throughout the world, the representativ
Of st, Peter, the self-callcd yiee-gerent {
God on earth, is a charge publicly pre-
claimed by the government Of Cathol
} Spain and tho point Of yeracity We al
: willing to leave between itand the chare