The New York herald., 1874-12-20
PAPAL INFALLIBILITY.
TIE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF SAVANNAH ON CIVIL
ALLEGIANCE AND CHRISTIAN DUTY.
SAVANNAH, Co., Dec. Ia, 1874.

THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF SAVANNAH ON CIVIL
ALLEGIANCE AND CHRISTIAN DUTY.
SAVANNAH, Ca, Dec. IA, 1874.
]. GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.,
DEAR SIR-Your note OF the 5th ult came duly
to hand. ! am just now too much engaged with
the affairs of my diocese to have time for an elab
crate discussion OF the subject to which you REFER
Our Saviour has given US the rule that We should
render to Caesar the things that are CR sar's, and
to God the things that are Gods" We must, there
fore, give to God all that belongs to Him, and to
the civil government all that belongs to 1t. But
may not Caesar from time to time demand for him.
sell that which belongs to God Have politicians
been SO pure and enlightened as never to
ask but for those things which be-
long to Cesara Have they not often
sought for themselves that which belongs only
to God History tells us that kings and govern
ments have often gone out OF the sphere ascribed
to them oy the Almighty and claimed things
which clearly belonged to God. This our own
federal constitution recognizes in declaring un-
constitutional any law infringing on the con-
sciences OF the people. While we must give to the
State all that belongs to t, still, when It asks Of
US what belongs to God only, we must say with
the apostles, 'f 1t be just In the sight Of God to
hear ye rather than God, judge ye." But In such
crisis who Is to tell Us what are the things which
never received any commission from heaven to
tell us what are the things OF God. But the Church
OF Christ has received the commission TO
teach all nations, and has the divine prom
Use that the gates Of he'll shall not
prevail against her. The Church is Christ's own
bride. She is not miserable slattern that Is
always needing reformation; so despicable that
she is every now and then being seduced until
some glorious reformer rises up to rebuke her for
her RIGHTEOUSNESS. Such bride would not be
worthy Of respectable man, much less Of Jesus
Christ. But ''she is glorious Church, not having
spot or wrinkle nor any such thing" Not only
the Paraclete the spirit OF truth is 10 dwell with
her oil days, but Christ himself has promised to
abide with ner until the end OF time. In the
Church, therefore, the spotless bride OF Christ
Catholics have one who will aud can intalllbly
teach all nations what are the things OF God.
Thus the Church teaches her children that in all
Things belonging to the civil order they must give
to the government the proper reverence and
obedience; for they are .the things OF Cnsar."
Aud in questions concerning conscience she Is
there TO tell her children how far Cesar may 60
without usurping to himself the things that are
Gods. She thus on the one hand provides good
subjects to the State, ana the otner avoids the
rock Of anarchy which would result from allowing
every man, woman and child to be the Judge
whether or not the enactments OF the state clash
with the duties owing by the individual TO his God.
she. the bride OF Christ ''holy and without blem-
FISH," cannot lead Us astray; Tor Christ, loving her
even as husband loves his wire, Is consequently
willing to protect her, and He 10 able to do 30, for
He h the SON to whom IL hath been said d:-"Thy
throne, God, Is for ever and ever" In the lapse
OF ages Caesar, the State, has often demanded for
himself what belongs to God. And because the
children Of the Church, unwilling & give to C@sar
the things that are Gods, reply to such demands
Of Caesar, 'If IL 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
Diocletan to the Robespierres, Victor Emmanuels,
| Bismsrcks aud the Parisian. Communists at mod