The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-12-12
Church Versus State.
Archbishop Ireland Argues
Tor the Entire Independ.
ence of the Church.

Washington. Dec 9.-Archbishop
!fe'aad. 10 serman preached at St
fatr'cks Church, in this city. today,
reviewed. the question of toe iudepend.
ence of the Pope. prophesied that at
90 remote day "tie Italian people aud
Cbris,endom st large would give back
to the Pspaoy its wou.ed digOi,y spd
liberty"
Ibe discussion of what is known a.
the Rousn question was especially
sIgolhcant. as the Brehbishop during
the Archbishop during the latter's
recent visit to Rome talked ct length
With the Pope. The rehbishcp re.
ierred to the Pope IS . prisoner 10 the
Vatican, voluntarily 10 that 90 phy hysioal
foroe prevents bis leaving iss precincts,
and voluntarily 10 that be could DOT
60 beyond the Vsticsu without impair.
log b's digoity ss PontiG. sud without
seeming to accept that situation crcsted
for h'u BY the entrance into Romer Of
The troops Of the Italian Government.
He said The Catholic Church is -
divioely created orgsnisu, receiving
directly from Christ its mission and eli
the rights which arc needed, that il
may live and work /; its life aod
mission are expressed 10 ice supreme
chief, the successor of Peter, snd TO
bin beleIg 10 . prs.ewineut msuper
oil the rigbm inherent 10 the Church.
and where possession is oeeded for
fulklmeDt Of it's mission aud work will.
ed BY Christ hence the Poutiffs'
right {" indepe odeoce and, as . eonss.
queoce. sovereignty"
The archbishop said
elf the Pope is cisi! subject Of an
authority outside Of bimsslf be has nos
the necessary freedom /; the ruler of
Goveroment would interfere, make Laws
impairiDg bis freedom of action or strive
to impose methods more serviceable to
the State than the Church. The Pom
titf's words must bear DO possible
suspicion that they we're imposed by
men ~ho have 20 authority 10 things
moral and spiritual If the sovereign
Ponuff be The subjec, of the King of
Italy what guarantee is thsre for other
rulers that. whether through fear OF
favor, lts!isu infueuces have DOT rene
tratep iuto the Vatican, and that Italian
Interests are not to be served +? The
peril of Dat;onaI jeaioUsies would be the
greater were the foreign countries at
toe time warriDg with the Kiog of
Italy We IN America are willing
indeed, 10 hearken to the words Of
Peter. but it ust be p!ain that they
are cot the words Of foreign ruler,
whose sole purpose is the iutelest of a
fore'eD nationality, not of the Church
the sole effective goarantee Of ipdepend
eoce ser the PcutiH is temporal sover-
elgniy, which marks out for him suffi-
c'eot space on earth upon which be may
woik in tu!flwent of bis mission With
all the independence he needs. The
dependence of bishop upon The ruler
sewers bin from union With Christians
10 other coustries, reduces bis Church
to the condition Of the uoiVcysll Church.
Other churches than the Cat. .ic do not
demand civil independence and ten poral
power for their chieftaius, because 20
otqer church, DO other church than the
Catholic - q world church, nor aims
at being the same time universal and
one. cor fulils the Injunction of the
Savlour, Teach all vatiops >"
The Government of Italy, be contend.
ed should have remained some where
outside of Rome.