The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-03
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH,
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE SECOND
PLENARY COUNCIL.

The ArchbtshOps and Bishops of the
United States, In Plenary Council
Assembled, TO the Clergy and Laity of
their Charge.
Venerable Brethren of the Caer0y-BeloCed Children
AfteI the lapse of more than fourteen years 1t has
again been permitted us to assemble in Pienary
Council tor the purpose of more e6ectually uniting
our efforts for the promotion OF he great object of
our ministry the advancement OF the interests of
agency, although He youchsafes to employ it. AS
IN assuming our nature our Divine Redeemer sub
jected Himself 10 Its conditions and was make like
unto us, sin only excepted SO he has wlled that in
the bshment and maintenance of HIS Church,
human agency should be employed, and the means
best adapted Tor the attainmen OF Its great end
should be selected.
Among these means, the assembling in council of
the Bishops placed over the different portions of
Christ's flock, in union with, and in obedience to.
the Chief BishoD, to whom He has committed the
care OF the 6s As s%o1r the
most efHcacious. Hence the reverence with which
the Christian world has ever regarded the Councils
because representing che universal church-t
body of pastors in union with ats head-and are,
therefore, the highest expression OF the authority
which Christ has gwen to His Church.
& RELATIONS OF THE CHURCH TO THE STATE.
q The enemies OF the Church fail not TO represent
her claims as incompatible with the independence
of the civil power, and her action as impeding the
society So tar from these charges being founded
IN tact, the authority andl influence OF the Church
Will be fOunQ 10 DC tne mOSt eUChCiOus support Oh
the temporal authority by which society Is gov.
erned The Church. indeed does not proc aim the
absolute and entire independence of the civil power,
because 1t teaches with the Apostle, that all
is of God;" that the temporal magistrate Is HIS
minister and that the power of the sword he wields
him IRON on high. For the children OF the Church
obedience TO the civil power is not submission TO
force which may not be resuted, nor merely the
compliance with condition for peace and security;
but religious duty founded on obedience to God,
by whose authority the civil magstl ate exercises his
delegated must always be exercised AgreeablY to
GODS law. In prescribing anything CONTRARY co
that law the civil power transcends Its authority,
ar has no claim on the obedience of the citizen
Never can it he lawful to disObey God, the Apos
the tribunaIiwhich sat in judgment them; "If ut
be just in the sight of God to hear you rather than
God, Judge We" This undeniable principle does
not, however entail the same consequences In the
Catholic system as in thos' Of the sects. In these
the individual is the ultimate Judge Of what the law
liable to aim the sanction ct the higher law for
what after all may be- and often is, but the sugges.
tions OF an undsciplined mind, or an overheated
Imagination, Nor can the civil government be ex
pected to recognize an authority which has NO war
rant for Its character divine, and no limits in its
order and anarchy. The Catholic has gu de in
the Church. as divine institution, which enables
him to discriminate between what the law OF God
forbids or allows and this authority the state is
bound to recognize as supreme In its sphere-of
moral, no less than dogmatc teaching. There may,
indeed be instances In which individual Catholics
will make misapplcati0n of the principle; or, In
which, while the principle OF obedience to ciyi
authority is recognized as OF divine obligation, the
seat OF that authority may be a matter of doubt, by
reason Of the clash ng opinions that prevail in re-
gard to this important tact. The Church does not
assume 10 decide such matters In the temporal
az ~ she % Is not the judge OF civil controversies
SeaV"red 10 saT aways when invited to do so has
aispn.es 20 oi.en arise and to e., ON wiTn ;
tho rights OF just ce. .lie peace OF society and
erto the % o. recognzlng the fact that hih.
cownts- 0neral and Slate Governments of our
Ho'" y except In some brief intervals of excite
mt ana delusion, have not interiered with our
eecIesjastlcal organization civil rights we still
have to lament that in many Of the States we are
mot as vet permitted legally TO make those arran ge-
menis for the security Of church property which are
in accordance with the canons ard dscipline Of the
fuy acknowledge that all is granted in this regard
that we could reasonably ask Tor. The right
Of the Church 70 possess property. & whether
churches, residences for the clergy, cSmeseries
or schOOl-hOusfs, asylums, etc., cannot be denied
without depiivinG her Of Q necessary means o
promotine the end for which she has been estao
hshed. We are aware Of the altered GROUNDS iol
this refusal to recognize the Church N her corp0
rate capacity, unless on tho condition that IN tn
matter Of TIE tonure Of eecicslastical property sn