The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-15
Prince or Captive.

which we publish to day will be found tn
solemn declaration "Neuer at Rome ca
his (the Pope's) position be other than tho
reason for this is given in the following
extract embodying the declaration
No, no certain 1t is that the Roman Poptii
10 not aud will not be in possession Of ful
liberty or foil freedom of action so long as h'
In the snbjeot of others that rule in bis owl
city. Never at Rome can bis position be othel
, than that of o Sovereign Prince or Of Q cap
) guilty of the Catholic Church ever exist &C
, long az the exercise of the Supreme Apostolic
Ministry 10 snbjected to the conflicts OF parties
the caprice Of those in power. to the uncertain,
ties of political elections, or to the echemes
and proceedings of crafty men, who place ex'
pediency before justice.
1t lie, indeed, not desirable that the
Pope should be citizen of any country or
the subject of any king. Already and
oftentimes Catholics in this very land have
been accused Of being subjects of foreign
power, men incapable of true and loyal
| citizenship In the country of their birth or
adoption, because of their devotion to the
head of the Church. The absurdity of this
little piece of bigotry 10 of course perfectly
manifest, when it is once said that allie
glance to ones Church il spiritual and ale
glance to ones country is political. Still
there might be some more plausible reason
for discomfort If the Pope were the willing
subject of a powerful foreign government.
1t could then be at least suspected that be
would be partizan of such government
from that natural feeling of patriotic pre-
ference which every good man entertains
towards his own country. As an indepen.
dent power, Chief of distinct prncipality
no matter how small, this natural tie could
not bind him in any quarter capable of ex
citing jealousy.
But the principal reason of the necessity
for the Pope's personal indeper depce of any
temporal power is far more vital than the
one just given and is found in the extract
above quoted. AS q subject hie liberty would
be liable to conetraint. 1t is desirable that
he should govern the Church according to
the law of God, untrammeled by the ca
price of politicians. A hereto might here say
that the Pope would not govern according
TO the law of G cd under any circumstances.
Even though that were true matters would
be made still worse if, added to bis errors,
the impiety or infidelity of an Atheistc or
Mahommedan ruler should throw the
darkness of its influence over his counsels
If, on the other Rand, az Catholics hold
the infalliblity of the Holy Ghost should
elways keep him from error, still the hos
tility of controlling temporal power could
without question immensely hamper and
impede his free intercourse with the uni
versal Church. In the providence of God
it has boon arranged that the Church shall
possess unity of organization as well as
unity of faith so there must be head to
that organization in order to give it com
pleteness and full efficacy. But if that head
5 imprisoned or otherwise prevented from
having free communication with the
the order of government is disar.
anged and confusion must follow. The
working of the system will be injuriously
Iffected.
OF course we know that Gods ends can
lot be frustrated by men. 1t he permits
he natural working of his system of
Church government to be impeded he can
'asiiy counterbalance the harm thus done
~ some unusual effusion of grace, but, SO
ar as human agency is concerned, this
must not be counted on. The impious
ebeis who have warred against him are
ust az criminal as though they bad sue
'eeded, and faithful Christians are Just az
much obliged to- battle for the rights of the |
Church as though God were not going to
ave it Independently of their efforts.
1t ia, therefore, the duty of Catholics to
zee, 80 far as they can have nfluence, that
he Pope, the head of their Church, is free
rom the dictation and Interference of the |
temporal power in the due discharge of his |
spiritual functions. This he can never be |
assured of as a subject. 1t might well |
Happen that be would, under a certain adj
of some kingdom or republic,
20 lett entirely unimpeded, buG the next
might be bitterly domneer-
ng aud prosecuting in his regard. His
therefore would be precarious.
while it ought to be stable and assured.
1t follows, then, necessarily and logically
hat some spot of the earth, and "a con