Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-04-04

BRANDED AS HERETrCs.'' Look then. hessaat
YOU, at the imminent danger in which Won st,,a
The text book in your Theological Seminar;a.
puts the question, Are heritcs rightly pupisb
ed with death! fms. st. Thomas answers 20
2. quest. XI, art. 3, in corp.) YEs! beause g..
But your disclaimer is too serious TO be dron.
ped. We must ask further for the mean;ps,
When, 50 recently, one of our PennsyIyania
representatives on the floor of Congress main
tanned this position as the doctrine of vo,
Church, it was generally ascribcd to the irno-
rance of ecclesiastical affairs into which peli-
tician might easily fall. But when BIsHOp-
and one who has proved himself not lacking
either in knowledge or in tact--recent, too,
from the court of Rome, and from the con-
ciaye of hicrarchs met under the special eye
of the Pope himself, returns to his diocese, to
promuige tins doctrine, what are we to infer2
Mr. Cbandlerss speech in Congress has sure
ly drawn forth replies numerous enough. and
well enough fortified by ali the facts of history
TO have refreshed the memory of one. who. in
this free land, might have forgotten. for q mo-
mcnt, the antecedent of his own politico-reli-
giouS system. And zoe could rather say:-If
what has been said and written on the subject
within the last half century, is not enough to
satisfy any one that the Pope does claim tenn
oral power outside OF the States of the Chareh
VIC will not attempt to supply the deficiency.
Neither shall we attempt it. Our people are
NOT SO ClSIly brought unUcr .sDeHlgnflDE lnftu-
enceS'' as to take the assertion of Mr.. Chandler
even when so remarkably endorsed by YOUR
self, as wiping out the history of so many hun
drcd years, and of many various lands
history which every child of our common
schools can quote against you, if, indeed, the
class books have not been erpIrgCted 20 suit
the demands of yeur Church.
We take ycur declaration as SO In the face
of all the well known facts, that we ask, What
can you mean? You, who have just returned
from n fresh sight of the t,ro slrorIs of the
Pope, representing the temporal Gad the spirit
al poJrer, and Of the Triple Crown signifyins-
the Pontifcal, imperial and Royal dignitics,
you are not ignorant that this Is a Fundamental
claim. EINsIsTED on in most direct and weigh
ty terms, and with most terrible fulminations
by the Court of Rome. l might cite the case
nearer at home and on ou, own American con-
tInent, fresh enough in the recollection Of our
citizens-that Of the Pope's allocution in the
Sacred Congregation against the Republican
government of New Grenada the case of
like assuml t.onof Pope Plus in Mexico,
to dissolve former marriages and annul
lIwS-or the very recent and fragrant case
of the present Pope's Bull against the Bishoj,
of Lima, for asserting in published treatise
that in questions of civil jurisdiction, (under
their republican government) that OF the civil
power is paramount to that Of the Church. (See
pretensionS of the Roman Court June 10, '51.)
But are we TO regard YOU as indeed, so ut
terly at war with the Papacy as to take the
position Of hereto, and to brand Pope Plus
IL and his Cardinals, al all the line of
Popes and Councils, as lyikE h0pelessly ssua-
der benighting influences in insisting ON the
temporal power Of the Pope?
Much rather should we believe this, than
suppose for a moment that you arc either ig-
norant OF your own church doctrine and histo--
~, or Intentionally disingenuouS. Could it pts-
sibiy be, that you should use such language
in public defence, or for popular effect, with
out really disclaiming the doctrine of tic
Popes temporal power Can't it be, that
while your express declaration is, that you
s'adBiu no temporal poscer IN tie Pope OUfsids-ct
The States of the Cdurcb," yCu mean something
else than to deny his having or claiming tenn
poral power anywhere except in his own inlme-
diatc kingdom in Italy Does anything lie
der the words, which does not appear Our
American people are accustomed TO take our
plain English in its plain sense. They are
ANXIOUS to know the truth on this great SUD.
ject,i in which the interests and independence
of other governments are so seriously inyoly-
ed. And you viii do me the justice to b.
lieve that seek only to elicit the truth, to
understand yourself, and to serve the cause of
truth and freedom.
Our blessed Master said TO the Roman Gov
ernor, s'My kingdom is not of this world. -
Again We remind you of your very words, We
admit no temporal polcer an him (the Pope) Oa:-
side Of The small territory kHorn The States Of
the Church. NO temporal power! You and
your Church admit non,. Plus IN declares,
July 9th, lS47, 'sWe have chosen Plus V. as
our patron" This Plus V. what was his doc
trine in Queen Elizabeth's time! 'SChrist,"
says he, sshas constituted me King all ge-
tions and realms, 70 piack up, destroy, scatter,
de,aolish, and builds The said Queen eliza
beth) ice depriUe Of her pretended right 10 The
Kingdom, and of all dignity, dominion and prir-
iiege lchGteuer, and ABsoLvE all mobiles, subjects,
and people Of The Kingdom, and echcerer haze
sIcOrs 10 her, from their Goth aud ALL DUTY
Mag. Bull, vol. >, .324, Lux 1871
This we take to be a claim of temporal pow
err and sufficiently naughty and preposter
Gus exercise of it. But this, and such like,
we should understand you, from your Ian
guage, to repudiate and to asclibe TO sbeRight-
ing infuences.' What benighting Influences,
then, but of the PaPacy, whose claims he as
serted, and strove eminently to carry out
% NO temporal power" you say. None
whatever-direct or indirect. ave admit
none How entirely are we agreed, then, on.
his important point
Alas for the Popes, Bishops and Doctors
who have labored and are still sslaboring un-
Ter such benighting influences TO ''in--
Sist on the contrary!
But what then of the Bishops oath to the
Pope-ssI shall not sell nor give away, nor
mortgage, nor enfeoff, nor in any way aleni-
tie the possessions belonging to my table,
even with the consent of the chapter of my
church, qcithout the IeaUe of the Roman Pontiff.
md should L proceed to any alienation of
hem / am willing to contract by the very
act. the penalties specified in the Constitu-
ion pubIised on the subject" We are not
qDoraut of the shifts made by your Doctors,
N certain occasions, to avoid the fair sense OF
he terms, and to declare that the Pope claims
My a spiritual supremacy which nevertheless