Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-06
Popery and the Bible.
ARTICLE 8.

So far as the Roman Catholic side of
this discussion is concerned, the question
is mainly question about words. James
Carroll does not yet dare to deny my prop
osition that Popery hates the Bible, and
does its utmost to prevent the circulation
and reading of it. But he tries to direct
attention from that, by giving prominence
to collateral points which have little or
nothing to do with the matter in hand
He will not, however, accomplish that OBJ
ject with me- l shall "stick to my text"
let him wander away from it as he will.
My business is to establish the truth, and
by legitimate evidence; and in regard to
the subject of Popery and the Bible, the
Evidence is so copious as to embarrass by
its very abundance. But if James Carroll
will bepatient, he shall see enough of it.
A few remarks, first, on the matter of
PRONUNCIATION" However learned James
Carroll may be in matters of mere Roman
Catholicism, he shows himself to be igno-
rant of the very first principles of law, when
he atfirms that Claws become binding only
inasmuch as they have been published in
an authorized organ for that purpose" and
that knowledge of the law does not oblige
to obedience unless it be obtained in that
particular way. If he had ever read so ell
ementary a law-book as Blackstone's COM
yoan+oriac he xro,,ld boya Ioarnad RI of &c o
norance of the law excuses no man." Ev-
cry man is bound to know the law, civil
and religious, to which he is subject, and
if he remains in ignorance of them, he does
so at hisperil. And if he would take pains
to read the laws of the state in which he
lives, as they are published from year to
year he would learn that they, for the most
part, "take effect from their passage" and
not from their PRONUNCIATION" or publica-
ton.
And if it could be shown, as it cannot,
that the DEGREES of the Council of Trent
are obligatory upon Roman Catholics only
in those countries in which the DEGREES
have been promulgated in James Car
rolls sense of the word, what discredit
would that circumstance bring upon Pope
ry. 1t "promulgates" its DEGREES where
people cannot read them, and Omits to ''pro'
mitigate" them where they can be read !
Is that the part of kind, tender mother
church? In Spain, where sixty-fve pei
cent of the male population and eighty-si1
per cent of the female population canno
read a word, it "promulgates" its DEGREES
and of course requires the people to ODE!
them In New England, where the grea
mass of the population can read its DEGREES
it does not 'promulgate" them, and doe
not expect the people to know them or obey
them. Is that really the policy of POpery
or is it one of James Carroli's lodges? II
Spain where, at the most, not more thar
three in ten could read the Bible if the.
were ever so anxious to do so, no one ma,
read except at the peril of his soul. Il
America, where almost every one can rea'
it, POpery interposes no obstacle to thei
reading it. Possibly James Carroll believe
what he affirms. Possibly not.
But enough about promulgation; at leas
for the present. proceed again to m
original charge against Popery, that
hates the Bible, and discountenances til
use of it. In evidence of that, | offer, al
so, the bull of Pope Gregory 18th, in 1874
After referring to the DEGREES of the Coun
Gil of Trent, and the list of books publishe
by it, he says: with respect to other work
of whatever author, we wish to remind al
persons that the general rules and the de
crees of our predecessors, prefxed to tn
index of prohibited books are to be abide
By. At the same time it will be your dut
to seize ont Of the hands Of the faithful, nc
only Bibles translated out of the WI
gar tongue, published contrary to the abov
directions of the Roman pOntitfs, but ais
prescribed or injurious books of ever
sort" Can it now be doubted that the de
crees of the Council of Trent are the at
thoritative and binding laws of the Roma
Catholic Church? If there was any nee
of their being confirmed and re-enacted i
the present century, does not the paps
bull give them all needful confirmation
Or will James Carroll pretend that til;
papal bull has not been promulgated i
this country? Is not that the identities
authority by which Roman Catholic priest
in this country "seize out of the hands o
the faithful" the Bibles which have falle
into their hands.
summon to the witness-stand Pope P
US 9th, to give testimony to the hatred 0
Popery to the Bible. A few years ago a
attempt was made to introduce the Bib
into Italy. 1t was an Italian version,
correct and exact as the best SCHOLARSHIP
of the age could make it. 1t was the Bibl
and nothing else. Did the Pope WELDON
the introduction of it, and earnestly rogue
the Italians to read it, as James Caro-
would have us believe is the manner {
Roman Catholic pastors? Nay, verify
The papal bull was at once let loose, al
) he gored the Bible and the Society whic
published it, on this wise This Societ
t strains every nerve to introduce amor
them, by means of individuals collectt
from all parts, corrupt and vulgar Bible
and to scatter them secretly among tt
| faithful. At the same time. their intentiC
is to disseminate a00rSe books still, (maI
these words of pious Pope Plus, a00rSe boo
: still than the Bible or tracts designed
withdraw from the minds of their reade
all respect for the Church and the Ho
. Sec. Wherefore we again condemn tt
, Bible Societies reprOyed long ago by OF
predecessors" AT the close of this bul
the Pope inyokes the aid of the sovereign
+. of Italy to defeat this attempted introdu
ton of the Bible, and AYERS that Gilbert
of Interpretation once obtained, and wit
it liberty of conscience among Italian
these last will naturally soon acquire poll
} zeal liberty" Ay there's the rub. Poll
s ical liberty is sure to follow the Bib
wherever it goes. No wonder that despot
both political and ecclesiastical, hate tt
Bible
). These papal bulls, to be sure, are harm
less things, compared to what they on
were. The time has been when eve
, monarch in Europe trembled before ther
even if they were not promulgated"
: the James Carroll sense of the word. b
the world is older and wiser than it on
was, and these fulminations of the DO,
), only excite the contempt of the w0rl
D while they once excited its dread. Ha
!. lam, the learned and eloquent historic
! OF the Middle Ages, says Those wi
1 know what Rome has once been, are be
q able to appreciate what sheis. Those wi
. have seen the thunderbolt in the hands Z