The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-12-27
w,rnlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
sEW ORLEANS SUNDAY DECEMBER 81 ts74.
The Catholic Bishop Of Savannah on Civ Ale
glance and Christian Duty.
NY. BearId, Dec. col

[NvY. Hearld, Dec. col
SAVANNAH, Dec. IA, 1874.
j. Gordon Bennett Esq:
DEAR SIR:-Your note of the 5th ult.
came duly to hand. 1 am just now too
much engaged with the affairs of my dio-
cese to have time ior an elaborate discus
sion of the subject to which You refer.
Our Saviour has given us the rule that we
should "repder to Caesar the things that
are C@sar's, and to God the things that are
Gods" We must, therefore,. give to God
all that belongs to Him, and to the civil
government all that belongs to II. But
may not Cesar from time to time demand
for himself that which belongs to God
Have politicians been so pure aDdsenlight-
ened as never to ask but for those things
which belong to Cesarf Have they not
often sought for themselves that which be
longs only to God History tells us that
kiDgs and governments have often gone
out of the sphere ascribed to them by tue
A'nighty anu claimed things which clearly
belong to God. This our own federal con
stitution recognizes in declaring unconsti-
tutional any law Infringing on the cou-
sciences of the people. While we must
give to the State all that belongs to it, still,
when it asks of us what belongs to God
only, we must say with the apostles, sIf it
than God, judge ye." But in such a crisis
who is to tell Us what are the things which
belong to Godf Not Cse sar, not the State;
for they never received any commission
from heaven to tell us what ave the things
of God. But the Church of Christ has re-
ceived the commission to teach all nations,
and has the divine promi:e that the gates
of hell shall not prevail against her. The
Church is Chrst's own bride. She is not
miserable slattern that is always needing
reformation; so despicable that she is every
now and then being seduced nnril some
ryl0 rIo To ntnI harf fx,,.
her licentiousness. Such q bride would not
be worthy OF a respectable map, much less
of Jesus. But s'she is glorious Church,
not having spot or wrinkle nor any such
thing" Not only the Paraclete, the spirit
Of tIutsa, is to dwell with her all days, but
Christ himself has promised to abide with
her until the end of time. In the Church,
therefore, the spotless bride of Christ, We
Catholics have one who will and can infal-
lbly teach all nations what are the things
of God.
Thus the Church +,aches her chihrco
that in all things belongi to the civil
order they must give to the government
the proper reverence and obedience; for
they are "the thiogs of Cesar" And in
Questions concerning conscience she is
there to tell her children how far Ceesa,
may go without usurping to himself the
one hand provides good subjects to the
State, aud on the other avoids the rock of
anarchy which would result from allowing
every man, woman and child to be tie
judge whether or not the eDactHsents of
the State clash with the duties wing by
the individual to his God. She, the bride of
Christ, "holy and without blemish," cannot
lead us astrsy for Christ, loving her even
as q husband loves his wife, is consequently
willing to prtect her, and He is able to do
80, for He is the Son to whom it hath been
said THY throne, o God, is for ever and
ever" In the lapse of ages Cesar, the
State. has often demanded for bimself what
belongs to God. And because the children
of the Church, unwilling to give 30 Cesar
the things that are Code, reply to such de-
mands of Caesar. "Ifit be just in the sight
Of God to hear ye rather than God, judge
ye," the same old accusation all the way
down from Nero and Diocletian 10 the
Robespierres, Victor Emmanues, BIS
marcks and the Partisan Communists of
modern times is brought up that the Cath
lies are not loyal enough to the civil gov
ernment.
The action of Mr.. Gladstone, therefore,
does not surprise US Catholics. 1t is
nothing new. 1t is only the trite old ono
popery" cry, which has more than once re-
sounded through England, sending pious
We Catholics in America, who are some
what acquainted with the immaculate 10y
atty of politicians, regard Mr.. G)adstOn's
action as merely the frantic effort of a broken
down politician to recover office. l am not
of the number of those who think that the
same howl may not be raised in this
country. America seems to suffer from
periodical attacks of the no popery distem
per. The present, indeed, seems to be a
favorable moment. The negro question
being now worn threadbare, an immense
number of virtuous politicians have been
suddenly left in most distressing want of
themes upon which to warn Americans of
the dangers threatening the liberties of our
Union. What q stroke of luck, therefor |
would this question of infalibility prove to
these most unselfish patriots who, like Mr. |
Gladstone are 80 willing to accept Office for
their country's good if they could but stir
up the ghost of another Know Nothing |
CT usade against Catholics. and thxs ride
once more into power. Yours sc.
w. H. Gross, Bishop of Savannah.