Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-02-18
NUMBER 6.
fFrom the Sacramento Onion, Feb. 9th.
PapaI Thunder.

If old Hidebrand had burst the cerements of
! the tomb and come forth, with medieval menace
to affront the bright, bold, liberal spirit of the
nineteenth century, he would not have produced
a more profound sensation in Catholic Europe
/ than the failing Plus TX. has wrought with his
4 late encyclical letter This extraordinary docu-
ment, with its appendix of heresies will be found
1 in our columns. If it belonged exclusively to
the spiritual domain of the church, it would still
provoke criticism but as a challenge of the vital
principles of modern society and present polity
/ of civilized nations as well a revival of the
old inquisitoral noerant spirit, it is calculated
! to excite acrimonious discussion on both sides
of the Atlantic and grieve those liberal Catko-
/ lies who rejoiced over the Popes apparent ap-
proval of reform in ls47, and hoped to see
papacv in the van of the age, rather than CROP
/ ing amid the graves of dead ideas levelng
/ pointless lanceS for men to mock. Catholics
may be sure that a document which gladdens
the Protestant world encourages the Gallican
party among the Catholic of France, and leads
the organs of Victor Emanuel to joyfully pro-
claim the approaching solution of the Roman
question in favor of Italian unity cannot be con-
ducive TO the grandizement OF their Church,
while men of all creeds who comprehend their
epoch. will see that this declaration OF war
against progress is likely to be successful as
Canutes attempt to stay the advancing waves OF
the sea. Ii subtle enemy of the papal power
nad desired TO insure the doWnIali OF the tempo
raj sovereignty at Rome and diminish the spiritual
influence of the Holy See in all enlightened
States, he could not have devised more efectual
measure than the issue of such document at
this time. The French Emperor has labored TO
concliate the Vatican and to reconcile its inter-
ests with those of Italy. He is met with a for
nal rcnunciation of all compromise and an as
sertion of principles which, followed to their
logical consequences, would subject all civil au-
thoritv to Papal sway, or make the obligations
of the good Catholic inconsistent with the duties
of the good citizen. The Pope is not content
with a defensive position, but assumes the otfen-
sive in the most offensive manner. Says FItaite !:
:: The encycical letter of the Court of Rome has
hardly been read in France, yet already has an
immense sensation been produced by this ana
thema launched against civil society public law.
popular institutions and modern liberalism
Far from making concessions which are recog-
nized as indispensable. the Vatican with desper-
ate resolution, has boldly condemned principles
which govern not only Italy, but France and
liberal Europe. La France the organ of the
empress Eugenie. reprodaces the famous decla-
rations of the Gallican Church. prepared by
BoSsuet. and expresses the hope that Galcanism,
thanks to the imprudence of the Pope" will
again draw to its bosom the native clergy who
have been against ii since the revolution. The
Constitutional calmly says: These theories OF
another age without possible application,
and if any danger exists, it is in the reaction
which may be provoked nv such declaration.-
france viii remain true Is. tAo principles in
scribed in her Constitution. The Italians who
desire no CONF lfomise. regard the letter n
fresh assurance that Rome will be the Capital
OF united Italy.
But it is the position in which American Cath
olics are placed by this document which chiefly
concerns us Heretofore Catholic writer's have
yaunted their devotion TO religious liberty. end
claimed that Lord Baltimore, the Catholic found
er of Maryland, gave the first example OF COM
plete liberation of creeds the soil of the New
World. They arc informed by Plus TX. that lib
erty OF conscience and worship IS = liberty OF
perdition.' i quotes, only to condemn, the
following doctrine, which every true american
republican accepts and containing a pTiaciple
which is ntrrncAed in Constitution: = Lib
erty of conscienee ma Ct worship is the right
OF every mana right which should be proclaim
ed and established by law in every well consti
tuted State and citizens entitled to make
known and declare, with liberty which neither
the ecclesiastical nor the civil authority can
limit their convictions, of whatever kind, either
by word of mouth, or through the press or hy
other means He also brands as hercsy the
following. which is also American republican
doctrine . In the present day, 1t is no longer
necessary that the Catholic religion shall be h1i43
as the only religion of the State, to the exclu-
sion of all other modes OF worship. 1t IS.
therefore the doctrine Of the Ronsh Church,
according to Plus IX.. that il is necessary to
make the Catholic religion the religion of the
State . to the exclusion Of all other modes Of
worship T. Such declarations from the head Of
the Church carry back to the gloomy days ot
Philip H.. and call up the hideous ghost OF
Torquemada