Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-04
Temporal Power Of the Pope.


In our last daily issue, we presented conclu.
sive proofs, that Professor Brownson's Review
Is entitled to all credit and confidence, as the
authorized and recognised exponent of the
doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. The
endorsement Of that Review, and the recogni-
sation Of Professor Brownson's services In the
cause of Romanism, by twenty-five Catholic
Bishops. and the apostolic benediction grant
cd to Professor Brownson by the Pope himself
"as a pledge Of our (his) gratitude TO you
Drownson) for the serrics yoH Brownson)
Aars done for as" (the Pope AL these, we
say, are surely sufficient endorsement Of tho
Professors opinions, as promulgated through
his Review. No work Of any description, in
politics, religion, or science, ever received u
moro complete Authorization, as a work of
standard authority, than Brownson's Review
has thus received from Bishops and Pope.
1t would therefore be sufficient for us to
show the doctrines Of the Romish Church,
from Brownson's Review, and especially as
this work abounds In references to the ancient
dogmas Of the church; and moreover it rcfutes,
both on principle, and by authority, the posi-
tons taken by individual members Of the
church, against the claim Of the Pope to tenn
poral authority, but we shall citea few historic
facts, which set all assumption at defiance on
this question. We may here observe, that
both in Europe and the United States, the
temporal power Of the Pope" has been at
times, denied by bishops and clergy. But
these denials are part Of the Romish system.
When popular clamor is raised against this
dogma, it is necessary to deny it "for the in
terest Of mother church" The form Of the
oath of the Jesuits, allows them to inculcate
even heretical doctrines, "for the interest of
mother church" and to assume any p1aaze of
opinion which circumstances may render ex-
,pedient-
In all ages of the world, since Romanism
had sway, the Popes have exercised tempo
raj power" as flowing from their assumed po
sition, as the yicegerents Of the Almighty
the keepers Of the keys Of Heaven. And, fit
be true, that the Pope is in fact the vicegerent
of God--thc keeper Of the keys Of Heaven
the arbiter of human fate--holding the power
to accurse and to blcss-to save and to con-
denim, we see no propriety in drawing distinc-
tions between his temporal and spiritual power
Indeed none such could exist God is omnipo-
tent. If the Pope be his viccgercnt, he must
be omnipotent also. Take from the Pope this
omnipotence and he is but mere man. And
that is precisely his condition, in our Judgment
with no more power over the future destiny Of
any human being, than he has over the move
ments of the sun, moon, or earth.
But to the point
Pope Gregory VII deposed Henry Nv. In
his Bull he said:
In this confidence, for the dignity and defence
Of Thy holy church, in the name Of Almighty God,
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, / depose impe-
rial and royal administration King Henry, son OF
Henry, sometime Emperor, who too boldly and
rashly hath laid his hands Thy church. absolve
all Christian subjects to the Empire from that oath
whereby they were wont to plight their faith unto
true kings; for It is right that he should be de-
prived of dignity who doth endeavor to diminish
the majesty of the church. Conc. Rom, I'LL ap.
Binun, vii 1884,
Pope Innocent III deposed Ohio w. Pope
Gregory TX deposed Frederick III. Pope Bon
iface VIII Numbered forth the famous Bull
"Unam Sanctum" against PHILIPPE lc Bel Of
France, containing the most e1travagant asser-
tons Of power Pope Paul Ill deposed and
damned Henry WILL and absolvcd his subjects
from all oaths and allegiance. Pope Plus the
V uttered Bull against Queen Elizabeth in
which tout of the fullness Of apostolic power"
he deprived the said Queen of her pretended
title to the kingdem,' and released her sub
jects from "all manner Of duty, dominion, al
legiance, and obedience" We need not refer
to other examples.
The whole reading world knows that in FORM
er times and down to recent date, the powo
has not only been claimed but exercised. II the
Pope be in fact the Vicegerent Of God he had
right to depose kings and princes. But We
will now quote from Brownson's Review, to the
point
In the January number 1850 Of the Re-
view, page AZ, in an article entitled " The too
orders, spiritual and temporal" Prof Brown
son says
Now, although we do not say-shat the Church
commissions the State or imposes the condition
ON which Ii holds les right to govern yet as it
holds under the law Of Christ and on conditions
imposed BY that law, do say tnat she 1.-THE Cath
olic Church. az the gaardiaa and judge of that
Tam, must have the po,cer to take cognirancs Of the
STATE, and TO Judge whether or not Il does or does
not conform to the conditions Of it's trusts and to
PRONOUNCE SENTENCE accordingly
After arguing tina question at some length,
Prof Brownson further says:
"For In deposing sovereign, and absolving
bis subjects from their allegiance, and authorizing
them TO proceed TO the choice OF new sovereign,
she 1.-THE church, does but apply the law of Christ,
DC, &c.
At page 60, Of the same number, the profess
sor says:
I'VE only ask our readers to bear In mind that
the Church Is not herself the civil authority, and
that though she possesses the temporal authority
N radioe, Inherently, she ordinarily governs the
temporal order through the temporal sovereign
She bears, by dipine right, both s,cords, but she
exercises the temporal sword, by the hand of the
prince or magistrate. The temporal sovereign
holds subject 10 her order to Be exercised in fsr
'erpice, aud under her direction r.
Now we strppose no mar, car, he On c,-a,f a