The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-11-22

officers and dgnitare In the temporal affairs OF this coun
try, which recommends its members to identify them
selves with this that political organization, or to support
this or that candidate for place and power the Courier
would not only be fully justified in sounding alarm butt
citizens would be recreant to the high and SACRED
trusts which have been bequeathed to them they failed to
resent and resist such nsidOus actaon This not the
first time that this charge has been preferred against the
Catholic Church II has been iteraed aud reiterated upon
the false assumption that all dafu and deSoat Catholics
all parts of Chrsteadom recognised in the head of their
Church supreme authority, in things temporal as well as
things spiritual 1t used for years and years by the
English government argument in reply to the pray
of the Catholics of Ireland for their political emancpa
ton Butt has been repeatedly, explicitly and positively
denied by the highest Agniareg of the Church. and now
at this late dsy intelligent Protestant gives the slightest
credeace to Islander which may fairly be regarded as ex
ploded.
OF the many evidences of the strictly non-nlervenon
policy of the Catholic Church in regard to political affairs
have only to refer to the following letter of the Arch
bishop of Paris which friend alike distinguished for his
Learnt ag and liberal sentiments has oblgngy translated
for the readers of the Union
To the Clergy Of the Diocese Of Paris greetings and bless
ings in our Lord Jesus Christ
For the last sixty years. my beloved coaborers has Eu
rope been tossed like ship upon angry and left to
the madness of the pillows, without pilot compass
drifting through impervous darkness, TO some unknown
point, where she hopes to find safety and rest The
Church naturally exposed TO the reaction 81 the
That other mystic vessel which Gears our eter
nal des'ines was many time beaten by the tempest,
exposed to the greatest paris and all but enguphed in the
very waves which threatened to conspn society itself to
the depths of the abyss 1t would have been lost could
agency ever have compassed It's loss But the bark in
which Christ appears sleeping wrath of the tempest
wrecked ia
the sovereign of the elements and when it peases him he
| speaks and commands the storm
And yet dearly coaborers, cannot aogeth-
shake off the sad forebodngs which crowd upon our
socitude and in the present uncture of things the -
ture alarms us quite as much as pastor it does
citizen In His foresight of the evils that broodng
| over Jerusalem the Lord would have gathered around
himself all the children of the holy city under the proec-
ton of his love- the dam gathers her young under her
wings at the sight Ut danger with the rising of the
| storm.
In humble imitation of Divine Master, whom we rep
resent you dearly beloved coaborers expe-
rience like desire in view of the uncertain future Hence
would call around US all sons in the ministry and
let them hear with the warnings of startled Affection the
wise counses which may guide them in their arduous
path.
But whence shall we derive those wise counses which
circumstances imperiously demand Where shall we find
the rules of conduct appropriate TO the difficulties of the
times We fear that mi ht mistake should we draw
them from our individual mind Where, then, shall
| look for them
God is mercifu, my dear coworkers, in the dspensa-
tons of His providence; and 1t not without in
tent of foresight that his spirit suggested the
menous trials perchance what had been done for
turies-namey the convocaon off council In the city Of
Paris There under The assistance of Him who has
ised to be with his apostles and their down
the consummaon of ages the fathers of the council passed
three decrees stamped with the wisdom from on gh of
which God is the true and only In them shall
find all that may be suggested prescribed avert the
dangers which threaten us In course
In laying down the line of conduct which we preates
and priests unswcrvngy to pursue in the clash of po
tica parties the council points out to us bow may in
the eyes OF nations be ever worthy of sacred charac
ter stand up sacred mission and consequent
y, command the respect If not the affection Of all
parties men of Cancellation and peace.
We SHALL therefore conne ourselves to the Development
the rules Of conduct which the council advises for the
priesthood in relation to politics and will set before yeu
all that grows out of the spirit Of that decree in order to
complete its and make its bearing clear to your
minds. Listen TO its language.
Guided by the spirit of brotherhood and walking In
the footsteps Of the Church. earnestly exhor all priests
those especially who Immediately discharge the duties
OF the holy ministry to keep wisely of the conflicts of
the various parties and not TO allow themselves be d.
vered from the care of souls to the difficulties Of the times
and the sres of politics Trustees of the promises of
Heaven let beware no we In terere with the affair NJ
the age lest we shall call blame upon heads and build
obstacles in the way Of divine ministry Let none of
US tint the preaching Of Gods word with the concerns of
politics'
The Holy See and the Council of Paris In order to con-
firm their prescriptions and their advice have deemed
proper above all things TO solicit attention to the char
acter and the mission OF the Church Let follow her land
marks and pass to the development Of this point Of
Catholic doctrine
Among the societies established upon earth one alone
you are aware dear co-laborers Is truly stable and
permanent superior 20 the vcissitudes Of time and The
conditions OF spaee-a society instinct with life for
all that adversaries say and do and still radiant with
YOUTH after centuries of existence That society is the
Church which Christ has founded and which He susains
In the hollow Of His divine hand. What she has hitherto
witnessed she will again witness to the end of time She
will continue TO this world from time to time and
often without intermssion volehy cunvulsed by pol
cal struggles and revolutions surgng above revolutions
In successive caamites She stands mistaken the midst
OF such commotons because being daughter of Heav
en- though not dissocated from tbs interests OF mankind
ever living Ia the sphere which encrces things dtlnc
she from her hRhe: grounds overops purely human soc
eues in which these mournu catasrophes recur the noise
and agitation Of which ascend her more quiet
heRhs Her divine Founder in the act Of setting her up
In the midst Of the world TO restore il TO life and hope has
been pleased 10 place her thus high that and things
TO her quite different from what they in the eyes
Of US poor and weak ais We fever away exist
ence here In The excitement Of frequently miserable inter-
estin the pursuit Of fragile advantages-n the grat6
cation OF vain desires having upon this earth but the ho
Zon Of an inferior position, and therefore Of circum
ephemers legislation with such importance that
exhaust the measures Of life in establishing indicating
that which Is destined to pass away with passing time as
though better and everything desnies necessarily
linked with its existence.
But these political forms which hug with go much OF
fierce socitude and which, free coness possess
their relative degrees Of worth and good are after al in
what Is favorable contrary 70 the respect which due
to God and TO HIS holy lave Hence, our beloved CO.
worker the Church has mission TO intrude in the
scheme7 ard cares Of politicians and repeat the va
rous constitutions Of States interest her only in their re
tons with religion and its exercise
aWlrr Il A IT.