, 1874-11-26
THE CIVIL AND SPIRITUAL ALLEGIANCE mr.
CATHOLICS.

dismon1bcring free Italy md erecting papal
political throne in tho Eternal Oity'7" "Aro
they in favor Of dividing tho fragments Of Italy
among Bourbon dospots and decayod pensioners
OF tho Va.icnn2" p" "Aro they in favor OF tho
concentration Of a civil poror IN Romo which
Will exercise absolute sway over body and soul,
and destroy ltbersy Of thought. OF speech, Of
conscience, and Of worship; which will strip tho
State Of tho rowcr Of defining civil rights, and
Affirm TINT in every conflict Of law the ocolossas-
acal authority shall alone be reoognisod7"
Ihc6o arc four separate and distinct questions
asked Of American Catholics by TnH TRIBUNE.
anu to which will ondoavor to rop1y, as =
Catholic, In tho order In which thoy aro put:
Ftrst-We propose to accept tho protection OF
our Government, and render to 1t our unqualified
civil allegiance.
Second!v-We are not IN favor Of tliamomberinr
any lFeo country, nor Of erecting "Papal
political power In the Eternal City," But no
deny that Italy Is either ftce or prosperous, aa
her sysfem Of espionage, and tho almost bank
rnht na condition Of her finances, amply testify ;
ate' as Catholics, wo entor our most SOLEMN pro.
LOST against tho apoliation Of Catholic property
and tho persecution of religious or1loru by Yiotor
Eulauuol'a Government
:, Your h.rd question wo deem unworthy Of no.
Fourtaly-Tho monstrous irpputation. that In
30 ia harmony with tho oontre OF Catholic nnity
IN Homo not only invokeB IN ouuivocn1 ulloei-
anco to qovernmnnt, but bands over to the Pope
tae t absolute control OF body and aoul. destroys
freedom OF Thought, lberty OF speech, of con
science, and OF Worship, is too prepoptorous for
moment to entertain. According to thin no
tion, tho whole Catholic world would be noshinr
morG sI tnan nm mere nonentlty, and tho popo alono
that, without liberty OF thought, OF speech. aud
or conscience, man IL reduced to the loyel Of tho
ooaat The TRIBUNE citos DR.. DOYLE fand cor
rectty, too) on tho difference botweon the
sp,1l'ua! spa ana civ esa aalegianco ot Catholics
cited tho opinions Of ether eminent Catholtc
dlvtnes. Who, prior to Catholic enanoipation
and during tho existence of tho !. PonI Colo
ln ireland. told their aocks that thor owod no
them, put their ministers to death. and uS contis.
cated their property, because of their adherence
to the Catholic faith. Does TnE TnrDuNE bo
lioyc TINT tho Catholics OF Germany to-day owe
asrict ailoglauce to King Williams Government,
property, and denies them the right to worship
God. unless doue ID the manner prescribed by
Would the writer IN TnE TRIBUNE cops,der
rs Allegiance TO Government obligatory II
that Government compelled him to give up his
belief Tor unbelscf, al tho caso may hey, aud
accept for his conscience the standard la,d down
by law, or 90 to prison7 Indeed, II he did con-
ssaoT his alleganco binding in such caao. his
freedom Of thought" etc., is not "a much "a
Catholics hare been in the habit Of giving lin
credit for.
Again, TnR Ta1BuNE quotcs from summary
report Of Archbishop Manniug's discourse be-
iore i' ne Koman Catholic Academia, printed in
but lone authorized arbitrator botwoon tho
nations Of tho oarth and he tho Popo:
tnat tho Holy Father Vas infallfbls bimBelf, aud
hence rs right 70 temporal Us well az spiritual
ans a .nd ,ars adst all tao conflicting opn
acknowodging csoiE a!sglaHcs, TO him aa their
Protestant England !" Is not man who says
thing ono day and contradiclait tho next. Thero-
FORE American Catholics prefer to believe that tho
y summary" Of the Archbishop's address in tho |
London Times waa very incorrect, or TINT tho |
groat "Thundcror" intentionally provaricatod;
and: as proof Of thia assertion, ne givo tho fol.
turo which wo hope The TRIBUNE will do Catb- |
olics the Justice Of publishing in full:
r., -, r,u.u Nov. 10 1874.
DEAR sia:1 assistad in framing tho Vatican do
crces. which hare not changed ot or se tho ob-
legations and conditions of c.yi obedience that catho-
dGa bcar toward the civil Power.
Mr. Gladsones pamphlet hangs upon a contrary n. |
,umpdon, and falls With 1t. In proof Of this assertion
Frst-That tho doatrne Of tho 1nfallibity Of tho !
Pope was divine rs. before the VAticsn Council rms
aold md that It was sot forth anu explained In the
nnd third parts ct tho book called petr1
secaaI ;;. gave suctunt evidence of this assertion
logna, but simply declared m old truth. ~ ~"
Ihsrd-That tho position Of Catholics In resnect t
yl allegiance atnea the Council Ii precisely what It
FoMrth.Tfnt the civil Powers OF tho Christian
Gxd hitherto stood n peaceful relations with tho In
na deelaroa III tho Councils Of tho Church be9ro tha
.auean Council, and, therefore, this is no nom nut
FfHh-Thnt t1a vou.,,, e.,,,n /