Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-07
O4ll(o Statesman,
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THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH,
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE SEC
OND PLENARY COUNCIL.
The ArchbIshOps and Bishops OF the
United states, in PIenary Council
Assem- bIed, to the Clergy and
o, LaIty OF Their Charge. 7,i q. H
Venerable Brethren of the Clergy-Beloued
Children Of Ghe Ldtty: F.Eg

v
Children Of he Ldtty: EE3
After the lapse OF more than fourteen
years it has again been permitted us to as
ssmLisi in Plenary Council, Tor the purpose
of more efiecLually uniting our efforts
Tor the promotion of the great object
of our ministry--the advancement Of the
Interests of the Church of God. God, in
deed, needs not human agency, although
He Vouchsafes to employ IL. AS In assum"
ing our nature our Divine Redeemer SUBJ
iected Himself to its conditions, and was
made like unto us, sin only excepted; {; so He
has Willcd that In the establishment and
maintenance of His Church, human agency
should be employed, and the means best
adapted for the attainmentOf its great end
should be selected. ,r.a
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 Bishop,
TO whom He has committed the care of the
Whole-lambs and sheep, people and pas
tors-has always been reckoned as among
the most efiieacious. Hence the reverence
with which the Christian world has ever
regarded the Councils OF the Church. OF
these, some are called general, because rep
resentinR the universal church--the body
of pastors in union with its head-and are
| therefore the highest expression of che au-
thOrity which Christ has given to His
Church. Lucal Councils, being but partial
! representations of the Church-because
composed of the Bishops Of one or more
proVinces-are of inferior weight, but still
are embodiments of the same principle,
Among these Local Councils those called
| PlenaTy, because representing several
ecclesiastical prOvinces-ordinarily under
l
times called National-hold the highest
place. They are assembled by express di-
| reetion of the Sovereign Pontiff; who ap-
| points a representative of his authority In
\ Che Apostolic Delegate he commissions TO
preside over them. Such Councils have
| not ordinarily to define the doctrines of the
| Church, although they furnish suitable Oc-
| casions for making authoritative statements
OF them. Their principal object, however,
| Is to regulate discipline, whether by the
| correction of abuses, or the establishment
| 0t such rules of conduct as circumstances
may require.
| [rhe next section of the address is an
elaborate exposition of the authority OF
| Plenary Councils, concluding as follows:I
| This authority is exercised not only in
| defining the truths of faith, and in deter
mining whatever controversies may arise
/
flock of Christ by seasonable admonitions.
against whatever might interfere withthe
purity of Christian morals, and by rebuke
and apprehension, when they are found nee
IIessary for thecorrection of abuses. "Obey
IlyOur prelates," says st. Paul, ''and be sub
Iiect to them; for they watch, as having to
Frender an account for your souls, that they
Imay do this with JOY, aud not with grief.
| For. this is not eXpedient for you." We
Icheerfully acknowledge, venerable and be
Iloyed brethren, the general and willing ac-
lceptance by you of this important princi-
Pile OF living, guiding authority, which
distinguishes the Church as divine insti-
tuition, from the various sects that surround
her. We wish, however, TO impress upon
the minds of all our spiritual children the
obligation imposed on them OF obeymg
their respective Prelates-each in his own
Diocese---by receiving their directions as
the expression of the authority which
Christ has established in His Church., Sc
long as such directions are not set aside by
superior authority, they are to be received
as a rule Of conduct, nor can they be evadet
without transgressing the Apostolic pre-
cent EObeg your Prelates." No motive
derived from the possible misconception OF
the nature of that which Is forbidden, ol
from the;real or supposed difference ofopin'
ion--the action or inaction of other pre-
lates--will excuse the Catholic from thu
crime of disobedience toward his owl
Bishop, if he refuses to be guided by him
and pfesume,to dictate when 1t Is hisdutJ
to obey. Hence when we warn you, either
collectively, as in the present instance, o
singly in our respective diOceses, to avoiC
secret societies and all associations whiel
we deem unlawful, you cannot, on tn
peril of your souls, disregard your admoni
lions because the authority we eXercist
in such cases is that of Him who has said
"IIim who hears you hears me, anu h
who despises you despises me; and he tina
despises me despises Him that sent me-"
RELATIONS OF THE CHURCH To THE STATE
The enemies of the Church fail not y
represent her claims as incompatible wit
the independence of the civil power, ant
her action as impeding the exertions o.
che State to promote the well-being of so
ciety.o So far from these charges beini
,founded In fact, the authority and influ
ence of the Church will be found to be tn
most efficactous support OF the tempOra
authority by which society is governed
The Church, indeed, does not proclaim th
absolute and entire Independence Of til
civil power, because it teaches with tn
Apostle, that "all power is of God;n tina
the temporal magistrate is His minister
and that the power OF the sword he WELD
is a, delegated exercise Of authority CON
unitted to him from on high. For ,th
children of the Church obedience to tn
civil power Is not submission to fore
which may not be resisted, nor merely th
compliance with condition for peace an
security; but religious duty founded o
obedience to God, by whose authority th
civil magistrate exercises his power. Thi
mower, however, as subordinate and dele
Rated. must always be exercised agreeSbl
4 TO Gods law. In preaching anything cor
trary to that law the civil power tran
scends It's authority, and has no claim o
the Obedience Of tie citizen. Never can
be lawfill to dlsobey God, as the Apostle
Peter aod John, so explicitly declared bt
/ fore the tribunal which sat in Judgment o
theIh tIf 1t be Just In the sight OF God
hear you rather than God, Judge ye." TIL
undeniable principle does not, howeve
entail the same consequences In the CathC
lie system as in those of the seets. ln the
4 the Individual is the ultimate judge of VIII;
the,laR Of God commands or forbids,, an
Il his consequently liable to claim the sanctio
i of the higher law, for what after all ma
! be, and often is, but the suggestions OF a
kundiseipllned mind, or an overheated imal
! inatiOn. Nor can the civil government |
1 expected to recognize an authority whic
\ has no warrant for its character as divin
! and no limits In its application, ,withol
i exposing the State to disorder ar
1 liAuarchyG . The Catholic has q guide IN Il
Church, as divine institution, which ei