Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
NO TEMPORAL POWER
For the Pope Is Possible Either Now
or in the Future, Says a
LEADING CATHOLIC OF ENGLAND.
Secretary Lilly Not in Favor of Brute
Force to Restore It.
HAPPENINGS BEYOND THE BIG POND

LONDON, March 2-William Samuel
Lilly, Secretary of the Catholic Union of
Great Britain, presiding at the annual re-
union of Roman Catholics at birmingham,
delivered a sensational address on the SUBJ
ject of the temporal power of the Papacy,
which is certain to attract the attention of
the Vatican and of the whole Roman Catho-
lie world, and, indeed, of the Protestant
world as well, on account OF Mr. Lilly IS
learning and craftsmanship and his many
contributions to literature and the leading
periodicals on historical and religious sub
Jects Few men would command so general
respect when speaking from within the
ranks of the Romlsh organization, and what
he has said is full Of good sense and political
sagacitv, whatever bias he may labor under
as an adherent of Romanism.
Lilly said that the temporal power of the
Pope has always been an artificial institu-
tion, even in the most favorable circum-
stances that have existed in the history of
the Romish hierarchy, and that it is now
practically dead, and Is never likely to be
revived.
The Ouirinaps Peace Offering.
He contends that the Papal guarantee bill
in Italy is a delusion and a snare, devised
only to quiet the Vatican and quite impos-
sible as a practical measure in the existing
political conditions, or in any that can
arise in the future. He claims, as corrol-
larry of the abolition of the temporal power,
that the spiritual independence of the Pa
pacy, and the material means by which that
independence is upheld, should be placed
under the protection of the public law of
Europe, and he justifes Pope Leo MIL
and his predecessor, Plus IN, in rejecting
the offer of an annual allowance from the
Italian Government under the law of guar
antees.
In other words, he makes every possible
claim for the preservation of the best possi-
bic position for the Roman See, while stat
ing the utter folly of the very claims upon
which the Pope and his advisers most stren-
uously insist He assumes the attitude of
faithful Romanist while showing the alb
surdity of the Roman Catholic position.
Brute Force EmphaticalIy Condemned.
Mr.. Lilly declares that he can conceive
nothing more disastrous to the Roman
Catholic cause, or deadlier blow to the
Bope's moral influence throughout the
world, or greater triumph to the enemies
of the Pope, than an attempt by brute force
W fesLore the teiuporal poWer,eNeH over the
small area of the City of Rome, to say
Nothing of the old estates of the Church. 81
The significance of this utterance is fully
shown when it is compared with the virtu-
ally simultaneous utterances of Leo XIIL,
who, yesterday, on the eve of his birthday,
which is to-day, at solemn audience in the
throne room OF the Vatican, to the members
of the College of Cardinals, enunciated his
determination to still fight for the two guild
ing principles of Pope Innocent Ill, whose
reign was cotemporaneous with the Magma
CEarta of England-119S to 1216-namely,
the redemption Of the hcly places and the
independence of the Church.
The common sense of a statesman, scholar
and secular man of affairs, who is at the
same time, Roman Catholic, is in strong
contrast to the other utterances of the Pope,
and particularly notable since he says all |
he can in favor of the RomiSh Church as a |
continuous political society.