Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-14
The Roman Catholic Religion.


We believe the recent rise of the American
party was from principles based upon an OPP
position to the influence of the Popo of Rome
over those in this country who p%rofesscd the
Roman Catholic faith and consequently the
extending control over the interests of the New
World, and not from any opposition to the re.
ligion as such. Freedom of religious belief is
one of the great principles of our Republican
Government, and however superstitious some
ulay deem the practice of making confessions to
the priests, and they to the Savior, 1t is no
cause for political opposition. If the Roman
Catholics Of this country own allegiance to the
Pope OF Rome, it is IL political evil which
should not be allowed to affect our elections {,
for while a person owes allegiance to any other
country, or ruler of any other nation or people,
he cannot be a citizen of this nation. And ii
is the difficulty of discovering a dividing line
between those Catholics who owe allegiance 70
the Pope, and those who do not, that leads
most people to the natural conclusion that all
owe this allegiance to the Pope. We have
seen no reason to deny but what all of the Ro-
man Catholic faith maintain a partiaAty, at
least, if nothing more, to that supreme func-
%tionary, Notwithstanding their oath Of natur-
~alization or as a freeman. But there now APP
pears from several quarters gratifying indica.
ton that the Roman Catholic people of this
country are to be lei to see that the Bible is
the most reliable guide, and through the Savior
the most direct source to God.
Our attention has been particularly directed
to this fact by the following, the source Of
which we are unimformed
4" SECESSION FROM RoME.-An item has re-
Gently gone the rounds of the press setting
forth that Father Chiniquy, a Roman Catholic
priest, had abjured lat Kankakee, ~Ilinois.) his
allegiance to the Papal See. Father Chiniquy
is a French Canadian, and is a man of candor,
ability, and irreproachable morals. A few
years ago he was to the French population of
Canada what Father Mathew was to the Irish.
lie was the eloquent advocate of temperance
lie visited all the towns and villages of Lower
Canada, preaching abstinence from all intoxi-
eating beverages, and was the means of rescu-
ing thousands from the drunkard's fate His
influence became immense, for he had healed
many II heart-broken family.
In the process of time he removed to IL French
settlement in Northern Illinoi nd there be-
came the parish Priest. Bishop O'Regan visit
ed him, and demanded the Church edifce and
lands to be placed under his (the Bishop's)
protection, according to the regulations OF
Rome. C~hiniquy replied that the property be-
longed to his people, and it would be for them
to say whether it should be thus transferred or
not. Bishop O'Regan stated that he (tho
Bishop had not only the right to the church
edifce, but to the house in which the Priest re-
sided. Father Chiniquy, at this juncture,
answered that the house was his own, and that
he was an American citizen, knew his rights,
and should protect them. This was the opening
of a controversy which commenced more than
two years ago. The writings of Pere Chiniquy
profoundly moved many of his old admirers in
Canada, and won new friends among those Of
an opposite faith for the latter saw that his
written replies contained not only strong reas-
oning, but evidence of a search after truth at
driven from his position. He continued to la
w az" PA0"oh "nohS ho pOoPio' hc was W.
identity growing in his convictions Of the Just
ness OF the principles which he defended. Re-
Gently his efforts for the diffusion of the Scrip
lures, and the bold stand which he had taken,
called down more severely than before the de-
nunciation of his superiors.
On the 22d ult, in a crowded assembly which
convened in the Court House at Kankakee, he
announced bis determination to withdraw from
! tbo po,nop G,+bol;o GL,,ob sd =
new ecclesiastical body, which he proposed to
call the New Christian Catholic Church,
About one hundred persons, it is said, have
followed him in this movement, and, doubtless,
from his former relations and influence, his ac-
ton will have an important bearing on the re-
ligious welfare of Lower Canada. Unlike
Ronge, who a few years ago attempted a reform
in Roman Catholic Germany, this man appears
to be n sincere and earnest searcher of the BIZ
BILE, and desires it to be open to the people"