Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-03

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Election, 4th Thursday In May.
-
Temporal power Of the Pope.
We have presented in former numbers Of the
Organ, abundant and incontrovertible proofs
Of the claim Of TEMPORAL PowER by the differ
emit Popes at Rome, in all ages Of the world. -
We have shown the exercise Of this power In
Europe down to recent period, and the at,
tempt to exercise 1t, beth in Europe and Amer
ica within the last three years, and yet we fire.
quentiy hear and see dcnials, Of any claim,
made by the present Pope, Of temporal power
in any other country, than the Papal States,
the locality Of his august presence, where this
assumed vicegerent Of God, who pretends to
be the Keeper Of tho Keys Of Heaven, and
tho arbiter Of every mortals destiny, is main
tanned upon a tottering throne, by the bayoncts
Of Austria and Francol
We need make no comment upon the most
remarkable circumstance Of the age, that the
pretended representative Of God upon the
earth--th man who is represented as the sue
oessor Of Peter, and bearing in his hands the
two swords" spiritual and temporal, with
power to "bind and loose" to raise up and de-
stroy---to admit into heaven, or to send head
long into hell, the whole human race, should
himself be dependant for his own liberty
and life, upon the Emperors Of Austria and
France!! Pope Gregory the VII caused it to
ordained. that,
The Pope alone ought to wear the tokens Of
imperial dignity all princes ought to kiss his feet
he has power TO depose emperors and kings, and
Is to be judged by none"
Thomas Aquinas one Of the most orthodox
and authoritative Romish writers said:
"The Pope, as supreme king Of the worid, may
impose taxes and destroy towns and castles for the
preservation Of Christianity"
II seems strange to our unenlightened judy
mont, that potentate Of such superlative
dignity, and such unbounded power, could
not, at least, control his immediate subjects,
in the limited Papal States, over which, the
world acknowledges his political jurisdiction |
The difficulty seems to be, that those who
know him best, like him least, and that
his own immediate subjects regard him as q
miserable and contemplate tyrant. But we
pass over this unimportant though singular
condition of things, in which the pretended
supreme king Of the world is unfortunately
placed. We propose to examine again into
the question Of the claim ofpower by the Pope,
over temporal matters, as contradistinguished
from spiritual matters. IA
In doing this, we shall copy rather extern
uively from Professor Brownson's Review, a
standard Catholic work, published in this
country, and we therefore present the fol-
i.io nvviow ny tnc twenty-five Bishops OF
the Catholic Churches in the United States.
We copy the names from one Of the volumes
of the Review. Testimonials
"BALTINoRE, 18th May, l849.
"DKAR SIN: After the close of our council, i
suggested to our venerable Metropolitan the pro-
priety Of encouraging you, by our appreciation and
influence, 10 continue your literary labors in de-
fence Of the faith Of which you have proved an
able and intrepid advocate. He received the sug-
gestion most readily, and take the liberty Of com.
municating the fact to you, as. q mark of my sim
csre esteem, and the deep interest feel in your
excellent Review.
IL shall beg of him and other prelates, who en-
terrain the same vicws TO subscribe their names in
confirmation Of my statement.
"Your very devoted friend,
FRANCIS PATRICK KENRICK,
Bishop Of Philadelphia
ITO o. A. BRowHsos, ESQ.,
Signed, also, by Samuel, Archbishop Of Bait.
more; Peter Richard, Archbishop of st. Louis /;
Michael, Bishop Of Mobile; Anthony, Bishop Of
New Orleans; John Joseph, Bishop Of hatcher;
John, Bishop Of Buffalo; N. 0'Connor, Bishop Of
Pittsburg; Matthias, Bishop of Dubuque; John M.
odin, Bishop Of Galveston; Martin John, Bishop OF
Lcngous, and Coadjutor Of Louisville; M. De st.
Pslais, Bishop Of Vncennes; William Tyler Bish-
op Of Hartford; J. u. Fitzpatrick, Bishop Of Bos-
ton; Richard Plus, Bishop Of Nashville; John Bap-
tist, Bishop Of Cincinnati John Hughes, Bishop of
New York Richard Vincent, Bishop Of Wheeling !;
James Olives, Bishop Of Chicago John M. Hcnni'
Bishop of Milwaukee; John, Bishop Of Albany !;
Amsdeus, Bishop Of Cleveland Peter Paul, Bishop
Of Zsis, and Coadjutor Administrator Of Detroit
Ignatius A. Reynolds Bishop Of Charleston: An.
drew Byrnc, Bishop OF Little Rock
This is pretty fir-indeed, quite compli-
mentary, and we might safely rely upon this
testimonial, as sufficient proof Of the authority
Of Professor Brownson's Review, in regard to
the doctrines Of Romanism, but we choose to
add the still higher proof on this point afforded
by the Review ITSELF in which the following
letter Is found, In answer to communication
from Professor Brownson to the Pope tender.
ing him complete copy Of his Review:
"PIUs TX, POPE.
"BKLoyKp Sos Health and apostolic benediction.
Our venerable brother John, Bishop Of Boston
brought 70 your letter Of the 26th Of last Decem.
Der, In which you offered US several works written
by you. He spoke to us with merited praise Of
those same books Of yours, and therefore we are
In greater degree rcjoiced and consoled by your
sentiment Of truly h1ial devotion and piety towards
us and bis Holy See which your letter expresses
throughout. With our supplant vows and pray.
ers we bcseech the God OF Morcies and Father
Of Lights that With Gkvelestial protection he may
cherish and guard fhese sentiments, which we
trust you vm Always preserve, And as token
o. our 50 great benignity, and as a pledge Of oar
grafsfsd< % you for me serpice yop have done for
20, We ADD Our apostoica benediction, which We
lovingly impsrt with the poured forth affection Of
our 6rfernsi heart to you yourself, beloved son,
and to your whole family.