American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-08-09
Relations Of tAe Pope to the Civil Power

-.Lutter OF Rev. o. A. ISrOGnSOn.
The Eastern papers contain letter of
this distinguished exponent OF the itomiSh {
faith, addressed to II. j. Davis, of War +
.rentown, n. c., aaa dated Boston, June I
l2,h. Mr.. Davis had sent 10 him for his /
views upon the relations ot the Pop" to The F,
civil power. The letter is written with /
much ability. A. .his subject is one OF
general interest, ana as Mr.. Brownson in
his capacity as editor of a Catholic journal
speaks hv authority, we have concluded to
pay our respects TO the subject,
We will hrst notice piece of jesultism
! in the Washington Uia,oa. l. does noi
presume to publish this letter in full, bu'
gives the following quotation only:
In matters purely temporal l. as
! Catholic, owe no obedience to the Pope,
because he has received from Jesus
! Christ no authority as a temporal sovereign
over me. He cannot make or nnmake he
rights Of the sovereign or the duties Of the
isabiect-abroga; the former or abSol''e
from the latter"
Our readers will SEQ how far the writer
intended to apply the term purely tenn
poral," before we close. 1t is evident
enough that the Union has attempted de-
cep'ion.
Mr.. Brownson defines his meaning in
the following terms:
"All agree tha. the State is supreme and
independent in its own order--that is to
say in tho temporal order. But what
mean is, that tie temporal order is not Su
pyems and independent, bit, in tie very na-
ire of things, sn5ordinutei 10 The spirHaoI
since Tie enI Of mantle end for a0hich
COL paaBe him, directs and g0gerns hin, By
=, his propilcacc--lieS IN the spiritual, not IN
HE Temporal. Every man who believes
any religion at all. whether Catholic or
I non Catholic, does, and must admit dis;
for it is only saying that We must obey
Go rather than man, and live for the Gre
a,or rather than the creature. This pre-
misei, think cln state to you, in few
! words, the doctrine do really hold.
Inasmurh rs the temporal order is sub
orlinqeh 10 The spiritual, il follows that
the S ale is under the laws of justire, con
e sequ,n,ly the prince holds his power as a
= trust, MT as IN independent right, and
' therefore forleits them when he abuse,
Il them and loses his right to reign"
TIE application of this principle to Gov
ernments, is thus explained by Mr.. Brown
l. son:
bat here is dill uly. The Church
q following the Holy Scriptures, makes riv
r. il allegiance u religious du'y, and say
q with St. Paul, Romans viii, l-9: lie
Y every soul be subject to the higher powcrs
for there is no power but from Cod
Therefore. he thas reslsteh the power ro
g., sisoth the ordinance Of God, and they tha
\, resist purchase lamnaloa 10 themselves.
4, Here Won SEQ am forbidden by the lav
10 OF God to reSs! jhe power, and command
"a cl, on peril OF damna,ion to obey. Her
% is my conscience bound 10 Obedience, AM
=. nv conscience asa Cntholic can he reraS
r. ed only b. "A declaration Of my Church, Il
tho diyinoy appointed director Of con
Y scionre, that tie prince OF tyranny anal op
+. press, ion has forfeited lis RI sh', fallen fror
8. his dignity, and ceased TO reign. What
t. claim for TIE Pope, IA the visible head q
!. the Church, is the power 10 release m
n. conscience from nthis religious bond, an
\, to place ME at liberty to ress. the priar
Al bccone n lyraut. This is all | unler5lan
TO by 'hs disposng power
The power i;sclf, everybody not T.
,o rant or slave asserts, TIE America
Of Congress Of l776 asserted it. ana drpose
i. George III. Tho only difference is, SON
To give it to the prop1, some to the ndjyi
ID ua; and claim /. for The Church, anl IL
m Pope as The head Of he Church.