Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-05-30

TEMPORAL PowER OF THE PoPE-The common
sense of this nation, says the Petersburg Democrat
has revoted at the bigoy and absence Of all regard
for TRUTH of those partizans who have been endeav
oring for months past to prescribe portion of their
fellow citizens on account of their religion. The
pretext for this has been the assertion as shameless
as the intolerance it is expected justify, to wit
that the professors of that faith acknowledge
temporal allegiance to foreign potentate.
The falsehood of the charge has been proved by
many, the most irrcfragable evidences to which we
add the following. It forms the conclusion of the
circular letter of the late council of Roman Catholic
Bishops at Baltimore letter we may add which
has been published to the world, and is read in all
the churches Of that persuasion in the diocese:
beloved Brethren Of the laity, we embrace you
all with paternal affection, and entreat you to walk
crcumspecty, for the days are evil You know what
manner of precepts We have given you in the name
of the Lord Jesus For this is the will of God your
sanct6cation. Be peaceful, SOBER just and faithful
in the performance of all duties towards all mankind
Practice patience, forbearance, charity towards all.
In the exercise Of your rights free citizens re-
member your responsibilities TO God, and act as
freemen, but not as having liberty as q cloak for
malice, but as the servants of God. Respect and
obey the constituted authorities, for all power is
from God, and they that resist resist the ordinances
L.
To the general and State governments you owe alleg
lance in all that regards the civil order the author
tiles of the Church challenge your obedience in the
things of salvation. We have no need of pressing
this distinction which you fully understand, and
constantly observe. You know that we have uni
formly taught you both publicly and privately, to
perform all the duties of good citizens, and that we
have never exacted Of you, as We ourselves have
never made to the highest ecclesiastical auth
orty, any engagements inconsistent with the duties
We owe to the country and its laws. On every op-
perfume occasion We have avowed these principles,
and even in our communications to the late Pontff,
we rejected q calumny the imputation that we
were in civil matters subjected to his authority. Be
not disturbed at the misstatements of our tenetS
which are daily made at the effort to deprive
Of cur civil rights, and Of the confidence and esteem
Of our fellow citizens. Formidable as is the combi
nation for this purpose do not despair that the
justice and good Of the nation will soon dis
| cover the groundless character of the suspicion
thrown the fidelity of Catholics, whose religion
teaches them to respect and maintain the established
order of society, under whatsoever form of govern
| ment they may be placed. Brethren let the light
Of your example shine before men, that they may
see your good work and glorify your Father who is
ia heaven. Pray for the conversion and salvation Of
all men, for this is the will of God who desires that
| all men may be saved and may come to the knowi-
| edge of the truth.
Gicen under our hands in Provincial Council at
Baltimore, the l3ta Of Nay in the year Of our Lord
| 1853.
t FRANCIS PATRICK, Areh-6ishop of Balti-
| more, and eight others.