Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-01-19
The Catholic Resolutions.


The Catholic Resolutions.
Mr.. EDITOR II have read with interest
OF the demonstrations Of sympathy with
the Pope, in the loss Of his temporal pow
er. made by various Roman Catholic con-
gregations in this country, and parts OF
Europe. have tried to weigh the argu-
mento 9TH which they have enforced their
sympathy, especially those advanced at
the meeting in Ellsworth, on . recent
Sunday, as reported in the american OF tho
9th inst. With your permission, would
like to make few simple suggestions, in
tended to show the unsoundness of the
Catholic position on this question.
The first resolution takes the ground
that the temporal sovereignty OF the Pope
Is necessary to the free aud complete exer-
else Of his spiritual authority, that the pa.
pal dominions are the property of the
whole Catholic church, and that therefore
the whole church has been robbed and
outraged-as well the Pope, by the
action OF Victor Emanuel, and the people
of Rome; AS supported in the remarks of
Mr. Herbert. The plea that the temporal
power is necessary to the exercise Of the
Pope's spiritual power. must mean one OF
both OF two things, viz THAT the sword
Is necessary, for the defence and protec-
ton of the Pope's own person. from the
violence of some of his own Cath. lie sons,
whose enmty should be aroused by .sus-
cion OF his acts !" or that the sword i
necessary To the enforcement OF the papal
dogmas and DEGREES. Certainly one or
both OF these is meant. History abundant
ly proves that the latter is meant at least
For We read of times, and not so very far
remote either, when pspal Rome enforced
her dognas upon the world, AID propaga-
ted her religion generally, by her tempol al
power; making use Of not only the sword
but also the Inquistion and every instru-
ment OF terror and torture. which the
ingenuity Of man could invent Thus she
has everywhere reigned 'till deprived of
power This is why the temporal sover-
eighty of the Pope is necessary to the free
and complete exercise OF his spiritu al au-
thority
Let the world once think OF the souls
bcheaded for the witness OF Jesus and III.
word of God" through the free and com.
plete exercise OF the spiritual authority" OF
thc papacy, backed by the power of the
sword--and then, If the nations want any
man to have so complete" an exercise or
spiritual authority over them, let them
join In II crusade like those OF the ll.h--
18th centuries march to Rome, and re-
store TO Plus TX his temporal dominionS
must encourage revolution, and prove de
struction to moral right in all countries
This is by no means certain. or course
successful revolution in the interest OF in
justice and wrong, would produce the ei-
feet stated, but revolution for the sake OK
Liberty and the dearest right, OF man
would rather encourage Liberty and right
than the spirit Of rebellion The SANE
love of right which should lead people to
rcyolutiOnize in the interest of Justice,
would lead them to oppose 3 revolution in
the interest of Injustice. They cannot
mean that people Aerer has right t.
change IT, form Of government; for every
Catholic prays for successful revolution in
behalf oi the liberty Of Ireland and this
prayer Is Justified on the ground OF righf.
Therefore in the case Of Rome. whether
the people of that city and the papai states
were bought, or stolen. or given TO the
Pope by Constantine; IL it is true that that
people was oppressed. and could not enjoy
those privilege, necessary TO the ''pursui.
of happiness" then 1t is true that they
were justlfea by moral right in oyerturuinG
| the papal government. As matter of
| fact they were right. Facts abundanty
| show that they were in>uffcraby oppres>-
! ed, What there were classes in Rome who
| were denied the sacred rights of suffra e
| Of meeting publicly To worship God in their
| chosen way free Of the Press, and
Gearly every civil right. Indeed the great
| unaninity with which they voted (whcn
| once permitted TO freely express their
| Wills to exchange the papal government
| tor that Of the Kingdom of Italy, and good
Roman Catholics at that, proves that they
| had adequate cause. And yet the act of
| The people of Rome is declared to be
|
/ of the whole Catholic church." That is to
say the territory and people over which
the Pope has reigned, is the property OF
| the church, and she has right TO rule
| the church by the instrumentality OF any
man She may select. This must apply To
| all Italy, and Europe, and much OF the rest
Of the world in n word, to all over which
| the papacy have ever ruled. as well as the
| petty States of the Church, which have for
| the last few years constituted the Popes
temporal dominions.
This great empire Is the rghtful inheri
tance OF the Catholic church to the end OF
| time, and she may rule them by devil, in
| the person of the Pope, or his instruments,
prohibiting free ballot, free speech, and
| free press, free conscience, and y free
Bible, and every other form Of human
| progress; claiming the aspiring soul to the
| putrid carcass OF its superstitions and trs-
ditions; and yet for the people to rise in
their sovereign might, and throw of this
yoke, would be an outrage against moral
| right, and robbery of the church Fie on
such arguments In free America. 1t ~
astonishing, that Catholics have not better
ground to stand on, in sympathising with
the poor Pope. PETER.
|
In Boston the Parker House pays So