New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-27
THE PAPAL AND NATIONAL S0TEREIGYrY.
ADDRESS OF BISHOP REINKENs TO THE OLD
CATHOLICS OF GERMANY.

ADDRESS OF BISHOP REINKENs TO THE OLD
CATHOLICS OF GERMANY
Bishop Rclnkens, in reply to the POpe's
Encycca has addressed pastoral to tile Old Catholics
OF Germany in which he discusses the question Of
ale glance civil governments. lie begins as follows:
We al. who. following the dictates OF our own CON
scientious convictions, continue IN the aoc.he OF me
ancient Church, desire 10 walk In the faith OF the
Fathers, mold religious communion with God, 10 love
neighbour and 80 far as IN US Hes 10 i've peaceaDy
with all Fur tbs also are we subject 10 the
powers that be- and TO the laws Tor resohs SAKE, Al
though this i quite EVIDENT and DO not lear tnat any
one OF my brethren and feOg-believers would permit
himself seduced into dlsooedence toward tue En-
peror and the sae toward the na.ioni poe anu ~, nc
national laws yet because We are al Vi us eager 10 as
play on every oPp.1dund deed our hoS IL 10 Se
nv duty az the present coDiincture 10 TESTIFY
openly and unmistakaDy, IL tue name u Us
all the teaching Of the Holy scriptures OK the NeW
Testament obedience 10 the worldly superior, since
brought face 10 face win the ASTONISHING 1act
that the representatives III GerUahy Oh Ine homIsh
Pope, since their unconditional suJectUn 10 MS su-
prrmdcy and infaDIty obscure Ia Inelr pdstoras 10
the Christian people these reFeaeu uoo'. anu 80
perpex their cOnscences. For tbey do not scfupe ny
the order and after the example OF tneif Lord the
Pope 10 bid the people use as CLOAK Ior
OF laws ana Tor opposition to the appointments OF
the worldly superior tie words OF the AP9sllos; Mo
mnst obey God rather than man" Acts w. 29 and 80 10
conceal the fact that the Apostles spoke these words
not against such aws ana appointments o9t against
High Priest aud tue spiritual superior ID Ser'ael
Worse even than this when they SPEAK OF Cod tney
(he BlshoD-) mean a man. In their hps THESE worus
mean. We must obey the Pope, rather than the ma
i0na Sovereign anu the government. rather tnan the
state Constitution anu the laws Inc question at issue
h. not one OF commandments OF God, bus OF the laws
The Pope
The Bishop argues tina this teaching contrary
10 the Scriptures Christ and the Apostles subjected
themselves the worldly msglsracy. although It was
pagan authority" He continues:
Christ was obedient, uhhesitatingiy and unc0mpiin-
Civ even the extent OF submitting IN silence 10 the
unr ghteous Judge. Never dbl lie at any time use his
influence wilh the people In order to excite them
against the Roman Government; Ia no way dId He eX-
cnse TO the laws declare laws to be Ia
valid II is unounded invention aud IL garing eon
trldcfIon the teaching OF Holy Scripture that the
BIS mop Rome has received from God the sovereign
power OF determining and infnii.Diy settling tho
boundaries OF the sovereignty OF emperOrs aud kings,
OF the aud It's legsatng bodies, and of coDinid
ING with supreme authority what laws snail be ODeyed
and what oDeyed 90 of declaring. ms bound by
MS Office" subjects OF foreign State, anu 10
Ihe whole Catholic World" these LAWS are IDVaIld1
IL il human presumption, which would draw down 10
the earth Rome the majesty OF Coo, IN order, as
under inc old covenant TO Tie down exclusively 10 one
fpo the Manifestation OF the adorable glory OF ING
Lord and II Is heathenish Ia embOly u ia man Inc
enemy against which the Church has 10 contend AZ SIN:
tns Toe IL IL tue hears vi nea and the mVsl exalted