The Sun. — 1819-06-21 (London, England)

FOR THE SUN.  Mx. have very often tbougia the n 4tne " CATHOLIC" demanded to be belt, r understood than it generally is : I therefore send you my ideas thereon, for yo-r insertion.  The Religion described, or rather miS-described, by the name " Catholic," is the Popish ReligiOn. It is rather ditti-. cult to ascertain how lung the Popish Religiim has been kniisVa in England by the name Catholic: ; hut, I think, not until an early period of the reign of his present Majesty. The name Catholic has, in my opinion, been assumed by the Papists from several causes; one is in the unbounded anogance, pride, and intolerance of the Popish Supremacy, which insists upon, and insinuates the false idea, that the Popish Religion is the only true Religion, and that it is the Universal Reiigion. Another cause is, that there is a sense in which the name Catholic is used as opposed to Heretic and Sectary. and in this bellSe it is by them intended to designate that those who me not Catholics are Heretics. This is a very.favourite-applicatiou of the name by the Papists, with whim it is a principal tenet, that all who are not Papists are Heretics, and that, particularly in religious matters, they are not boon(' to, but are rather considered criminal if they do,,keep their tains with Heretics, as they hold Protestants are. But the principal cause of the assumption and use of the name in this c,ain. try, appears to toe to have been, and to be, to cover the itst odium attaching to the name of Papist, the bare mention of which immediately brings to our mental view all the horrible cruelties and- persecutions which were exercised upon our Protestant Forefathers by the Papists, during the time the Popish Religion had the power; some of which cruelties are recorded in Fox's Book of Martyrs, also in the reigns of Mary (called the bloody), James, and many ot bets in British History; and these cruelties and persecutions have been eon • tinned when any opportunity has offered, from those time: down to, and since the gun•powder plot, which diabolical plot, by the murderous blowing up of the King and Parliament, the Papists expected would have re-instated them is power, and enabled them again to have ftasied their hatred upon the sufferings of more hecatombs and auto da-fes, of burning alive of martyred Protestants. The Popish Religion is certainly most improperly called Catholic. This will appear, upon referring to the meaning of the word, which, I am told, is derived from two Greek words, signifying through and the whole, literally, "-any thing that is universal or general." Therefore, until the Pope is the governor,and the Popish Religion has, as it wishes to do, extirpated all other Religions, and becomes the Univeisal Religion, or the Religion.of the whole-world, the assumption of the name Catholic is as improper, as it would be for us to assume, that the Prince Regent is the Emperor of and Commands the Universe, and that there is no Religion but the Protestant. Equally improper doesit appear to me that the Kings of France should be addressed, or by us recognized, by the title of " Most Curlsthus Majesty," which originated by the mandate of a Pope, who, by suds arrogance, designated that the Popish Kings were the most or best Christian.  The above arrogant and fAise assumptions and insinnations, under the name Catholic instead of Papist or Popish, wilt show that. it is most improperly so named. From these premises it is obvious the colic' usion must be, that the lteligiou referred to should be called the Papistical or Popish rengion, —its professors should be called Papists—and the exercise of the religion should be called Popery. If these perfectly correct and proper ❑ames are now, as they ought always to be used, there will be much less cause to tear the progress of Pope' y among us; and I have ❑u doubt that if those names had been always used, they would have prevented much of the annoyance we have put up with front the Papists about their emancipation ; fur I do think no reflecting Protestant would sanction such an act. Our good old King we are sure never wouid, and I fully believe that our Prince Regent, and his Government, with the examples of our past history before them, will never consent to Popi►h Etnancipu, tiuu. %Vail respect, 1 am your well-wisher,