Year: 1874




GLADSTONE.


THE CONDITIONS OF CIVIL ALLEGIANCE NOT CHARGEn


BY THE VATICAN DECREEs-THE CATHOLICS AL


L9GIANCE AS TRUE AND AS LOYAL AS THAT OF


ANY sUBJEcT OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE


The London Daily News publishes the fol-
lowing letter to the editor from Archbishop Mannne'


SIR: The gravity OF tho subject on which 1 address
vou affecting, as 10 must every Catholic 10 the brlsn
Empire wi hope. obtain from your courtesy the pup


This morning received copy OF pamphlet entitled
"The Vatican DEGREES In their bearing on CIVIL Az
legiance" fnd in it direct appeal to myself. both
for the office hold and for the writings nave puo
me for both those reasons. am bound by tho ofce
bear suffer day to pass without repenn9 Itom
upon their loyalty; and for my teaching, ready TO
show that the principles have ever taught are Deyohu
II is true ndeed that In page ST of the pamphlet Mr.
Gladstone expresses his belief that many OF his 10
the least Of it. as good citizens as himself But the
whole pamphlet elaborate 70 prove ,ha
for them to be so cannot accept this graceful acknow
edgnent which implies that they are good ciuzehs oe


should be wanting In duty TO the Catholics Of this
country and to myself II did not give prompt con,
promptness affirm that the loyalty OF our civil allie
eance not in spite Of the teaching OF the Catholic
The sum Of the argument 10 the pamphlet lust pub
lished to the world is this: That by the Vatican DC
Catholics to the civ power States that longer
nossibe for them to render the same undivided civil
Allegiance as it was possible for Catholics to render be-
fore the promugatiOn OF those decrees.


In to this. 1t Is FOR the present suuciont 10
affirm:


l. That the Vatican decrees have In no lot or little
changed either the obligations or the conditions OF civil


q That the civil allegiance of Catholics is und
vded that Of oil Christians aud OF all men who recos
niZe divine or natural moral law.


g. That the civil allegiance OF no man Is unlimlted
and therefore the civil allegiance OF oil men who believe
in God or are governed By conscience Is in that sonse
divided .


In this sense and in no othor u be said with truth
that the civil allegiance OF Catholics Is divided Tho
civil allegiance Of every Christian man In England IS
limited by conscience and tho law OF God and the OWL
allegiance OF Catholics Is limited neither less nor more


The public peace Of the British Empire has been con-
soldated the last half century by tho elimination or
religious conflicts aud inequalities from our laws The
and stable If its statesmen bad been tempted IN
evil up the old fires OF reg Gus disunion
hand of more than any otner, tnreW tnls
torch Of dscord into the German Empire The history
Of Germany will record tho name OF DIR. lgnatius Won
D6llinger the author Of this national evil Lament
Of Dr. Won DOlinger In the pamphlet before me. May
God preserve these Kingdoms from the public ana
private calainies which are Vislbly Impending over
(iermany The author OF the pamphlet In Ills Mot line,
assures that his purpose IL not poemlca DuC
pacific" l sorry that 80 good an intention suouo
nave so widely erred In the selection OF the means.


But purpose is neither TO crltclse nor 10 contro
vert. MY desire and my duty as an Engl5Dman, rs u
Catholic and pastor, Is 10 claim Tor my mock ana
for myself, civil Allegiance as pure as true anu us
loyal rendered by he DISTINGUISHED author OF tno
pamphlet, or by any subject OF the British Empire


1 renain Sir, your faithful servant,


+ HENRY EDWARD, Archbishop OF Westminster.


Nov