The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-01-29

Of fhe two movers had spre1d 81 Fnedern
aocYoty and perverted the minds even cEno
small Number Of Catholics, partly IN conse-
quence Of forgetting that the civil order =,
in the very nature Of things,suoclaan.ssee . -
to subject the Church to the civil authority
and partly in consequence Of the DIVISION
since the Reformation, Of society into m
Vulnerable Earring and hostile secte, Wnlcu
it were idle, or worse than idle, to attemPt
to suppress by force: 1t becomes necessary,
especially in popularity constituted gov,
eminent, that these sects should act In civil
matters together, and to do that they must
to q greater or less extent, waive their tneo.
logical differences. 1t is necessary tna'
Catholics should do the same, II not re-
quired to do anything contrary or detri-
mental to their religion. The Church re-
cognizes this necessity, aud allows her chill
dren to conform to it. But this Is not say
ing that this is the normal relation between
the two orders, or that which is Des1 OF
most desirable at all times, In all nations,
and under all circumstances. Sectarlan
divisions may he unavoidable, but they are
always an evil, and when and where they
do not exist it is is worse than idle tolntro-
duce provisions which are necessary or e1-
ped;ent only when and where they exist.
They exist with us, and will for q long
time continue to exist; the sectarians' anu
Catholics are alike integral portions OF the
arrangement is possible than that which
places the Church and the sect on the same
footing of equality. But if there we're no
scots in the country, if all were Cathoiacs,
or members of the Church, no CONCESSIONS
by the State to sectarians, weuid need 70
unreservedly cooperate with the Church
and conform in all respects its admlnlstra-
| ton and legislation to the law OF COD as
she interprets and declares it.
That this it what the Church holds and
teaches is the duty of the civil power al
ton and each sect maintains the same for
itself The several sects are at this mo-
ment laboring to bring about union or
mutual alliance among themselves, prePar-
atory to forcing the government to 40 LOT
| them under the general denomination OF
Protestants, all that it would be oouna 70 90
for them were they the Church of God.
| They urge, as q Justification of their con-
dnct. that if they do not exclude Catholics
from political and civil equality. and turn
the government against them, Catholics, II
they ever get the power, will exclude
Protestants, and use the civil power 20
coerce all dissidents into conformity TO the
Church. WSare by no means fully assur-
ed that they will not succeed, and place
Catholics under the law of the State.
Yet the pretence of Protestants is false
The Church can never act contrary TO hel
own principles, ana consequently eau nesel
use the civil power against Protestants II
this country till the whole political people
acknowledge her authority, and then there
vii! be no Professionals to use it against. II
is we'll known principle of the Church
: that the acceptance of the faith is volunta
ry; consequently no one can be coerced in
to receiving it. She undoubtedly hold
that they who have received the faith il
baptism, are bound, and may be compelled
to keep it.; but this applies. practically
only to the generation that breaks ava.
from the unity. of the faith not TO thos
who have never been in the Catholic com
. mupion, but have simply followed tn
: teaching OF their fathers, and adhered
I the errors in which they have been reared
Such persons, and such are all Protestant
f at the present day, excepting few apos
{ tate Catholics not worth naming, are,
relation to the authority and discipline {
D the Church, placed on the same footing wit
1 infidels, who have never received the faiti
and who cannot be compelled to receive
: against their will. The Church, undoub'
0 edly. condemns them, and weeps owe
Q them as in danger of perishing everlasting
Q ly, but she can use no weapons but thoi
Of Scripture, tradition, and reason again
<bam ~ y Tablet.