The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-07
9;he 9ai1g Menus
wEDNEsDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER z, 1866
THEROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
p,sroT,.I LETTER OF THE SECOND
pLENAIsY COUNCIL.

Tho .rchbisI,ops and bishops OF tho United
States, In Plcnary Council Assembled, TO
the Clergy and Itnity Of Their Charge.
Veuern1,c Brci,,,eu cfttc Ce5gy-Belored Children
Of Mc Lady:
After the lapse of moro than fourteen years it
has apain been permitted us to assemble i'll Plcnary
Council for the purpose OF moro effectually uniting
o,r efforts for tho promotion Of tho great object Of
M, ,oinistry-thc advancement Of tho interests Of
the Church Of God. God, indeed, needs not human
ogencv although lie vouchsafes to employ it, AS
in assuming our nature our Divine Rcdoemer sub
iectcd himself to it's conditions, and was made like
INTO us, sin only excepted; SO He has willed that
in tho establishment and maintenance Of His
Church, human agency should bo employed, and
the means best adapted for tho attainment of its
great end should be selected.
Among the means the assembling in council of
tho Bishops placed over tho different portions OF
Christs flock, in union with, and in obedience to
the Chief Bishop, to % whom He He has has committed the
pastors-has always been reckoned as among the
most eflicacious. Hence tho rovorcnce with which
tho Christian world has ever regarded the Councils
oftho Church:
RELATIONS OF CHURCH. TO STATE.
Tho enemies of the church fail not to represent
her claims as incompatible with tho independence
Of the civil power, and her action as Impeding
the cxcrtons OF The State to promote the well-be-
ing OF society. So far from these charges being
founded in fact tho authority and influence Of the
Church will be found to bo the most ecacioue sup
port Of the temporal authority by which society is
governed Tho Church, indeed, does not proclaim
the absolute and entire independence Of the civil
power, because it teaches with the Apostle, that
fall power is of God; that the temporal magistrate
is His minister; and that tho power Of the sword
he wiclds is delegated exercise Of authority COM
mitted to him from on high. For the children Of
the Church obedience to the civil power is not a
submission to forco which may not be resisted nor
moro n witt Ro,-
and security; but religious duty founded on obc-
diencc to God, by whose authority the civil mngis-
While chccrfnliy recognizing tho fact that hith-
erto tho General and State Governments of our
country, except III some brief intervals of excite
ment and deluson, have not interfered with our
have to lament that in many Of tho States we arc
not as yet permitted legally to make those arrange
@ WITH the
the Catholic Church. In some Of tho States we
gratefully acknowledge that all Is granted in this
right of the Church to possess property, whether
churches, residences for the clergy, cemeteries or
school houses. asylums, &C., cannot de denied
noting the end for which she has been established.
We are aware of the alleged grounds for this re-
tusal to recognize the Church in her corporate
capacity unless on tho condition that in the matter
OF the tenure Of ecclesiastical property she con-
form to tho general laws providing for this object
These laws however, are for tho most part based
departing from her praoce o% the hhefbs
soon as she was permitted to enjoy liberty of
worship. They arc tho expression Of distrust of
ecclesiastical power as such; and are tho fruit OF
the Misrepresentation which have been made of
the action Of the Church in past ages. AS we'll
might tn the !. oi1l power prescribe to her the doc
she is to honor God, as to impose on her system
Of holding her temporalities which is alien to her
have rejected her authority. Instead of seeking to
dsprovo tho various reasons alleged for this denial
OF the Church's rights in some OF the States, we
content ourselves with the formal protest we here
by entcr against it; and briefly remark, that even
in the supposition, which wo by no means admit
that such denial was the result Of legitimate mo-
measure Of ecclesiastical or religious liberty.
which we are supposed to enjoy.
Nor is this an unimportant matter, or one which
mas not practical results Of the most embarrassing
character Not only are we obliged to place church
property In conditions of extreme hazard, because
not permitted to manage our church temporalities
United States -Aissouli-laws have been passed
by which all church property, not held by corpora
tlons il subjected to taxation, and tho avowed OBJ
to tho Catholic Church. In Concluding these ere. rcy
marks VIC merely refer to the attempt made in that
State to make the exercise Of tho ecclesiastical
civil power.
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRn1oNY.
TO that sacrament of the Church which is high
U
m9atrmony-wc feel it our duty to direct in o par
tcular manner your attention. From the begin
nlng, as we learn from st. Paul, the union of man
and woman was great mystery or sacrament; be-
cause, from the beginning, it prefgured the union
OF Chrlst with his Church. In nothing perhaps ia
me me influence Of the Spirit Of Truth evident in
me teaching of the Church than in tho caro- with
Whch she has protected this 'grcat sacrament %
when; Dy 30 many, agreeably to what st. Paul had
loretoid, was stigmatized as unlawful while by
othcrs 1t was unduly exalted above sacred virgin
NY, contrary to tho express teaching Of Christ and
ms inspired Apostle. Tho holiness OF Christian
matrlmony is connected with our most sacred as
soclatlons and duties; and it cannot bo lost
sight, OF in however small degree, without
Gmntalilng the most serious consequences.
Inc Inc Church has shown in reference to
tn,s subject q spirit of watchfuness and
soheitudc which alone would entitle her to tho
Rratltuuo OF man, and cause her to be regarded as
tne most faithful guardian Of public and private
morality. Many OF the innumerable contests in
% WINCH she was compelled to engage with tho do
postarcs OF the Civil Power, during the middle
aSes wcrc IN defence of tho stability and sanctity
" tnG harrage-tic; and, at later period she pre-
tGiIeu tu 20 SEQ England torn from her side rather
h nliuh yled compliance with tho will of O monarch
mio sacrihced HIS country's faith to his unbridcd
Passiohs. In this matter sho knew no distinction
pet%ecn the private man md tho monarch; contra
10 "hat an apologist for the worst passions Oh
~nost a1 cruel deeds of this unhappy ruler insists
snouia hayo boon her line Of conduct. Even in our
oMn a.ys; her conservative authority has been OK
Sleu III Tie same cause; and the anger Of the first
Meapo,ooh was incurred by the refusal Of Plus VII