Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-05-16
From the Richmond Enquirer.
CATHOLIC ALLEGIANCE.


CATHOLIG ALLEGIANCE.
MEssRs. EDIToRs.-As there seems to.
be misunderstanding as regards the al
legiance due to the Pope by Catholics of
this country, Ithink it can be easily cor.
rected by comparing spiritual and tempo
raj obligations with the obligations which
bind US to the Federal Government and
the particular State Of which we are citi
zens.
The allegisnce we owe to the Union
cannot conflict with that due to the State,
because the sphere Of federal power is
different from the sphere Of State author
ity. The federal powers can declare
war, make treaties, regulate commerce
DC. The State has no such powers. In
such matters my allegiance is due to the
federal government. But as the State
has the power to regulate its domestic
concerns, I am bound to obey the laws Of
the State in such matters. 49,.
The subject matter upon which the
two powers act being different, the ODE
d;ence due to the one cannot conflict
with our duty to the other, and in spirit
ual affairs, neither the Federal Govern
ment nor the State of Virginia has any
authority to establish, by law, any rell>
gion, consequently am free to adopt
any religion please.
The subject of religion is not within the
sphere of social power. hence the spirit
ual Jurisdiction to which l submit myself
in spiritual affairs, can by no means con-
| flict with my obedience to the civil au-
thoriLies, 10 which amenable only in
civil matters. 1t has also been said, that
the Pope has power to absolve and dis
pcnse with the obligations of oaths.
Upon this subject, need only call the
attention of every candid and reasonable
man to the following. This subject at
tracted the attention Of the British Gov
eminent pending the discussion of Cath
olio emancipation and for the purpose of
obtaining authoritive information. Mr..
Pitt, in 1887, propounded the follow.
! ing queries, to the principle Catholic
universities of France and Spain:
LIST. Has the Pope or Cardinal, or any
body Of men, or any individual Of the
Church of Rome, any civil authority,
power, jurisdiction, or pre-eminence
whatever, within the realms of England -?
Cd. Can the Pope or Cardinals, or
any body of men, or any individual Of
the Church OF Rome, absolve or dispense
his majesty's subjects from their oath Of
allegiance under any pretext whatever?
The Faculty of the University of Paris
answer as follows:
LIST. Neither the Pope nor the Cardi-
mails, nor any other person Of the Church
of Rome, hath any civil power, nor civil
jurisdiction, nor authority, nor pre-emi-
nence whatsoever, in any Kingdom-con-
sequently none in England-by reason or
virtue of any authority, power, or pre-
eminence of divine institution, inherent
i'll, or granted. or by any other means be-
longing to the Church of Rome or the
Pope.
Cd. Nor can the Pope. Cardinals, nor
any body of men, nor any person of the
Church Of Rome, by virtue of the Keys.
absolve or release the sub ects of the
King of England from their oath or allegi-
ance.
The Universities OF Lounay, Louvain,
Salamanca, and Valledolid concurred
with the French University.
In 1896, the Catholic Bishops Of Great
Britain made the following declaration :
81 No power in any Pope or Council,
or in any individual or body Of men. in
vested with authority in the Catholic
Church, can make it lawful for a Catholic
to confirm any falsehood by oath. or dis
pc nse with an oath, by which n Catholic
has confirmed his allegiance to his sove-
reign, or any obligation of duty to third
person"
l might add more in testimony, bat l
deem this su fficient for the cause of an
oppressed people. We know Catholics
perlled their lives and fortunes in the
cause offreedom. No Catholic has preach
cd sedition from the pulpit. No Catholic
clergy was among the 5000 who remon-
strated against the passage of the Ne
braska bill.
AS there has been no distinction made
by our Constitution between Catholics
and other denominations, there should be
none. We should remember that the in
FAINT Catholic settlement of Maryland in
l649, first proclaimed to the world reIi~
gious federation, and there it was first es-
tablished by law. Catholicism was ever
the friend of civil liberty. OF what faith
was William Tell p? What Robert Bruce?
What Marco Bozzaris? What William
Wallace? For fourteen hundred years,
perched high above the clouds of the App
pennies, the little Republic Of San Marine,
founded by Catholic Monk, and popula-
ted exclusively by Catholics. had contin-
ued to live, and lived yet, monument
almost as old as the Church itself, of her
compatibility with the most ultra De-
mocracy.
A PROTESTANT.
LLorDs, Va, May LIST.
S1GNrF1cANr.-Whatw will be the feelings