The Washington herald., 1909-03-08
Writer Points Out the Errors
of Its Critics.
CAN BE LOYAL AMERICANS
Explains Mutual Relations of POpe's
Supremacy and Constitution OF
United States in Civil Matters.
Cardinal Newman and other Dis
tinguished Chu-chmen Quoted.
sditor rhs WashIngton Herald:

I
men has suddenly discovered In the prin-
ciples. IL not in the practice. Of the Ro-
man catholic Church. direful menace
to our civil liberties. 1t may be charitably
granted that these propagandlsts OF alarm
are sincere and honest in their unfOunded
convictions, Ignorance is not infreqUently
more honest than knowledge.
The error into which our accusers-I
will not say traducers-have fallen grows
out of misconeeption or the relation Of
the church 10 civil government In other
words. they have a confused notion OF
the respective and independent turisdic-
tions OF the church and the state.
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes
and teachers there are two distinct pow
ers. the spiritual and civil. each supreme
in its own sphere.
This principle was recognized by the
founders OF our republic. Article Of
the amendments Of the Constitution pro-
vides that Congress shall make no law
respecting the establishment Of religion.
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof q"
And think the converse may fairly be
/ inferred that no church. foreign or do
nestle, shall in any way interfere with
the enforcement of the Law and the en-
joyment OF the civil rights OF the people
under the Federal Constitution.
Service TO Country.
/ BY way Of refutation OF the charges OF
our adyersaries. abundant reference has
been made by Catholics and enlightened
! Protestants to the many patriotic and
distinguished Roman Catholics who risked
their lives and fortunes with their non
Catholic onpatriots in the war for inde-
/ pendence. and later in the preservation
I Of our free system Of government from
disunion and ruin.
I While the argument Is fair, practical,
and persuasive. IL seems TO me that our
strongest defense against the uncharitabIe
/ and baseless apprehension OF our detrac-
l tors is founded In the intelligent and I'M
/ partial understanding Of the mutual rela-
/ ton Of the supremacy Of the Pope IN
/ spiritual matters and the Constitution
and laws OF the United States in civil
matters Roman Catholics owe an obedi-
ence. not absolute and without exception
I TO the Pope, and at the same time they
/ owe an allegiance. not absolute and with
/ out exception. 20 the authority Of the
I
| gress should enact a law In clear conflict
with the religious liberty guaranteed TO
/ US all by the Constitution; would Cath
/ oHes or any other Christians affected be
obliged 10 obey il? I would very posi-
/ lively answer, Mo- On the other hand
] If we could imagine that the Pope should
| direct. even under pain Of excommunica-
/ ton. that all Catholics in the United
States must use their power and influence
I 70 bring about a change in the Constitu-
tion so as 10 restrict or annul the estab-
/ lishment Of religious liberty, or 20 secure
70 the Roman Catholic Church some ex-
| ceptonal privilege. does any intelligent
person believe that we would obey him?
/ The Pope would have no right 10 give
such a command. and his spiritual sub
| jects would be under no obligations 70
| obey him.
In his celebrated letter 10 the Duke OF
Norfolk on Mr.. Gladstone's exposition.
the late Cardinal Newman. dinerentiating
the allegiance due the Pope and that due
! the civil power, says:
Suppose. for instance. an act was
passed in Parliament bidding Catholics to
attend Protestant service every week. and
the Pope distinctly told US not 10 DO so.
/ for it was TO violate our duty to our
/ faith; I should obey the Pope. and not
the law. But now. on the other hand.
could the case ever occur in which
should act with the civil power and not
with the Pope? I say then in certain
I cases I should side. not with the Pope.
but with the civil power. For instance, 1
| believe members OF Parliament. or Of the
| privy council. take an oath that they
would not acknowledge the right OF sue
| cession OF a Prince OF Wales II he be-
cane a Catholic should not consider
! the Pope could release me from that oath
had I bound myself by il. I should
| be clear that. though the Pope bade all
| Catholics to stand firm in one phalanx
| for the Catholic succession, still, while
remained in my Office. OF IN my place in
/ Parliament, I could not DO as he bade
me-
Authorities Quoted
| Cardinal Turrecremata says: zone ought
to obey God rather than men: therefore
were the Pope 20 command anything
against Holy Scripture. or the articles OF
faith. or the truth Of the Sacraments. or
/ the commands OF the natural or divine
law. he ought not 10 be obeyed" sum.
de Eccl.. pp. AS
Bellarmine, speaking of resisting the
Pope. says: In order 20 resist and defend
ones self no authority is required. There
1 fore as It Is lawful 10 resist the Pope II he
/ assaulted mans person. so 1t is lawful
TO resist him IL he assaulted souls or
troubled the state Cturbanti rempublican).
/ and much more If he strove TO destroy the
church. Rom. Pont, il, %
| Our own Archbishop Kenrick says: His
power was given for edihcation, not for
destruction. If he (the Pope) uses It
| from the love of domination (quod absiD
! scarcely viii he meet with obedient popu-
/ lations. .'-Theol. Moral, p. 15e
1 One extract more from the great Eng
lish cardinal: when, then, Mr.. Gladstone
asks Catholics how they can obey the
Queen and yet obey the Pope. since Il
may happen that the commands OF the
/ two authorities may clash, / answer that
| II is my rule both to obey the one and
/ to obey the other but that there is no
rule In this world without exceptions, and
| II either the Pope or the Queen demanded
OF me an absolute obedience he or she
would be transgressing the laws OF human
nature and human society. I give an alb
solute obedience TO neither"
! II is significant that DR.. Newman was
made a cardinal after he wrote the letter
/ from which I have quoted
Additional extracts could be made from
Catholic theologians Of the same tenor
but VIII conclude with this observation.
! Owing to racial differences, hereditary
transmission, social and religious environ
ments. opportunities or no opportunities
individual idiosyncrasies. the human fam
| ily presents a chaos Of discordant ideas
about almost everything in the universe
II. therefore, well becomes US, even the
/ best and wisest, to be charitable and for
/. bearing with each other and with all Of
our fallen race, remembering, with ST.
Paul. that though We have all faith so
that we could remove mountains, and
have not charity, we are nothiag. And
say in praise Of our retiring President