I at an aggregate meeting in Dublin in the year 1813, passed a resolution to instruct their Board to consider of the Constitutional fitness and propriety of sending an earnest Memorial to the Cortes of Spain, stating to them the enslaved state of their fellow Catho TO THE POPE. WAS compelled, from want of room, to omit the remarks which I intended to have made upon this precious document in my last number; I therefore now submit them to the attention of the reader. It may, per-lics in this empire, and imploring their haps, be thought presumptuous and favourable intercession with their Alunnecessary in me to make any obser- ly, our gracious Sovereign, what a vations on this ill-timed address, after dreadful outcry was raised by our the able manner in which it has been hireling prints against the measure, handled by the Rev. Messrs. Peach and the epithet of traitors and conspiand Martyn in last month's Journal, rators was lavished upon the promo.. But as those gentlemen's remarks ters and supporters of the measure, were principally of a spiritual nature, with a vehemence sufficient to appal I cannot refrain, as a Lay Catholic the stoutest heart. The impropriety of and an Englishman, from entering my this resolution I exposed in my JourProtest against the instrument, con- nal for August in that year, and the ceiving it to be an act fraught with ills, measure was given up, as stated by a not contemplated, probably, by those member of the Board, at the suggeswho signed it, notoriously unconsti- tion of an illustrious Duke, who has tutional, and in the highest degree im- shewn himself a valuable and exalted politic. Take the address in which-friend to Catholic Emancipation. But ever shape you will, it is neither more nor less than a POLITICAL petition to the Holy Father, in which, after enumerating the civil deprivations the addressers still labour under in this land of freedom, they call upon the Sovereign Pontiff to use his influence in obtaining the civil privileges they are so anxious to enjoy, by confirming a Rescript issued during the Holy Father's absence from his spiritual throne, which rescript would have laid the elergy of their church prostrate at the feet of the temporal power, and placed the liberties of their country in the hands of the ruling faction for the time being. When the Irish Catholics ORTHOD, JOUR. VOL. III. what degree of comparison is there in this request for the intercession of the Cortes, and the Address of the British Board of Catholics to the Pope, to solicit the confirmation of Quarantotti's Rescript? The one was merely to beg the friendly aid of a temporal power to intercede with its ally, to exercise the gifts of mercy towards a suffering class of subjects; the other was to request the supreme Head of the Catholic Church to exercise a power over his spiritual children, by sanctioning a document which went to influence them to submit to an act of civil authority which they had reject、 ed, and which they declared they ne◄ S ver would accept of. Besides, the [testant countrymen, that it was deemed necessary, in 1788, by the late celebrated Mr. Pitt and his then colleagues, before they could be satisfied Irish Catholics brought records from the page of history to prove that what they required had been acted upon by our Protestant countrymen in nu-upon the subject, that the following merous instances; on the contrary, question, among others, should be put the conduct of our English addressers to the universities of Paris, Louvain, was directly the reverse of that pur- Alcala, Douay, Salamanca, and Valsued by their ancestors, and in the ladolid, for their opinions:-" Has very teeth of their own oaths. And the Pope, or Cardinals, or any body yet we hear nothing about the uncon- of men, or any individual of the Church stitutional proceedings of the English of Rome, any Civil authority, power, Catholic Board-nothing about their jurisdiction, or pre-eminence whatsobeing disaffected and seditious -nor ever, within the realm of England?" is any suspicion of disloyalty attached To this the universities, after expressto them for their proceedings. No, ing their astonishment that such a no, they, good souls, adopted a dif- question should be submitted to them ferent method from their Irish bre- by the Government of so enlightened thren. The latter appealed to public a nation as England, answered unaopinion, and rested their cause upon nimously, "That the Pope, or Cardithe bases of Truth and Justice; while nals, or any body of men, or any inthe former combined with a few cor- dividual of the Church of Rome, HAS rupt statesmen, and endeavoured to NOT ANY CIVIL authority, power, obtain by intrigue and influence the jurisdiction, or pre-eminence, whatcivil privileges of which their ances-soever, within the realm of England." tors were deprived by fraud and falsehood. This, reader, will account for the silence of the hireling prints upon the conduct of the English Board of Catholics, the press being completely under the power of the two factions, both of which are eager to emancipate us upon condition of giving up our consistency, and consenting to have our Clergy enslaved by them; but as such is not my wish, nor of the great majority of the Catholics at large, I shall endeavour to point out the illegality and impolicy of these addressers, trusting I shall never have occasion again to record so disgraceful and unconstitutional an act as I am now discussing. First, as to the illegality of the address. It is well known that ever since the period of the Reformation, so called, our enemies have been most sedulous in spreading among the prejudiced and bigotted part of the community the great danger which attaches to a Protestant Government from the influence possessed by the Pope over Catholics in temporal affairs. This calumny had taken such deep root in the minds of our Pro Notwithstanding this explicit and ingenuous answer, so great was the prejudice of the public mind against the supposed temporal influence which the Pope had over the opinions of the Catholics of this realm, that the Legisla ture considered it expedient, to insert the following clause in the oath of allegiance which it compelled all Catholics to take, before they were legally released from the pains and penalties of the Popery Laws:-" And I do declare, that I do not believe that the Pope of Rome, or any other foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence, directly, or INDIRECTLY, within this realm." This is undoubtedly a curious specimen of the liberality of our Protestant-Ascendancy-men, and of the jealousy and suspicion entertained by them against Catholic allegiance; we however submitted to it. Anxious to wipe away the foul aspersions thrown out against us, we readily accepted of the conditions offered, and solemnly pledged ourselves to adhere to them. nor any prince or prelate hath or ought to have any civil power or pre-eminence within this realm? Most certainly not; and yet these addressers, thank God they are but few, tell his Holiness, that to the sentiments contained in this rescript they have given their fullest and most unequivocal as surances of adherence and respect. In other words, that they have willingly submitted to the decree of a foreign prelate upon a subject of civil legislation, and they call upon him to con firm the said decision, after having sworn that he has no authority to meddle in temporal matters. It may be observed, that what has been done by the addressers in this case has been sanctioned by the concurrence of some of the members of the Executive Go Placed in such a situation, by illfounded prejudice, the only road left for us to pursue, to gain the summit of our wishes, was that of a broad and open system of policy, which, in time, would confound bigotry, and disabuse our countrymen of the erroneous notions they entertained of our principles. But has the conduct of those persons who have taken the lead for the last twenty-five years in the affairs of the English Catholics, tended to produce this so much-wished for effect? I answer, No. Their measures have been productive of a contrary issue; they have contributed to injure the cause of Emancipation by the se, crecy and insincerity of their plans; and they have tended to justify in some part the suspicion entertained against the integrity of our principles.vernment. Whether this is the case What stronger proofs can we need in support of this charge, than the schemes which have been adopted by them to further their favourite plan of the Veto, and more particularly this address to the Pope, praying him to confirm a rescript issued by a foreign prelate on a subject of British legislation, couched in language the most authoritative, and decreeing that the Catholics of this realm "ought to receive and embrace with content and gratitude the law which was proposed for their emancipation?"-Now what was this law but a civil act of a civil legislature, and relating to a measure of a civil tendency. Tis true some ecclesiastical arrangements were included in it, but these were the productions of men invested with a civil capacity, and the intent of these arrangements was to obtain civil privileges for laymen. Circumstanced as Catholics were, could they, even were they willing, submit to this decree without a violation of their oaths, especially as they had previously rejected the measure, with horror and disgust? Could they conscientiously submit to be influenced by this deci sion of the Vice-Prefect of the Propaganda, after having sworn in the face of their country, that neither he or not, it alters not the question so far as regards the conduct of Catholics. If the Government chooses to solicit the interference of the Court of Rome in regard to obtaining the Veto, they are at liberty so to do, because they are not restricted by an oath to the contrary; but they cannot dispense with the obligation under which the Catholic is placed, unless they repeal the oath and expunge the clause by an act of Parliament. In support of this opinion I shall quote the opinion of that able and upright lawyer, Mr. F. Plowden, who, in his very interesting second letter to Sir J, C. Hippesley, just published, and may be had of my agents, says All that the rescript specifically purports to decree, and all that it generally refers to, as allow. able by the indulgence of the Apostolic See, is emphatically civil in its nature and tendency; and I scruple not to assert, that to admit, that the papal powers extend to affect what is civil or temporal, is nothing short of substantial perjury in every one, who has upon oath renounced the temporal power of the Pope within the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.... We all know, that to be grateful to a civil legislature, for passing a civil law, is a civil act: and I having sworn, 66 that I do not believe, that the Pope of and injurious to religion of its kind, Rome hath or ought to have any tem- inasmuch as it tends, by declaring the poral or civil jurisdiction, power, su- approbation and adherence of the periority, or pre-eminence, directly signers of it to Quarantotti's rescript, or indirectly, within this realm, can- to strengthen the arguments of our not, consistently with such oath, ad- opponents, and to bring the sacred mit that I am controulable by his Ho- order of the Priesthood, hitherto so liness, or subject to any decree he can bright an ornament in the church, into issue, to direct, model, or force my disrepute. Amidst the many attempts civil conduct in such civil matter.". now making to ridicule the Catholic Having clearly proved the illegality of faith, and the discipline of the Church, addressing the Sovereign Pontiff on a particularly by those who may be political subject, I shall now attempt ranked among the infidel and freeto shew the impolicy of the measure, thinking part of the nation, none are and the injury which would arise to more formidable than those writers our religion if the prayer of the ad- whose labours are devoted to bring dress were granted. Surrounded as contempt upon the sacred Ministry, by the Catholics of this empire are by holding out its members as a set of enemies of every religious denomina- men governed by the most selfish printion, who differ from each other in ciples, and actuated by the most infa their respective creeds, but who unite mous motives. These scribes well in sentiments of hatred and opposition know that the easiest way to bring re to the ancient faith, and are armed ligion into disrepute is, to fix in the cap-a-pee to overwhelm its professors, minds of the multitude an idea, that not, indeed, by the force of truth, the Clergy are acting for themselves, but by a torrent of calumny, false- and not for their flocks; that in lieu bood, detraction, and abuse, the con- of being the servants of their divine duct of the former should be governed Master, they are only the tools of the by the strictest integrity, and their state. With this view a writer in Cob actions ought to be clear and undis- bett's Register, (which, instead of guised. Neither lending themselves to being a political Journal, is now be faction; nor becoming the tools of sel- come a receptacle for calumny and ir. fish and interested statesmen. Avoid. religion) who signs himself "Eras ing alike the intrigues of party, and mus Perkins," and says he is a pri the dissimulation of courtiers; their mitive Christian, observes, that he is hearts should be animated by a pure also "a decided enemy to an order of love of their country; and the unde- men called Priests, because he is confiled and disinterested precepts of vinced that our Saviour was too sensi their divine religion, added to the ge- ble a person to have invented or en nuine principles of the British Con-couraged, in the slightest degree, an stitution, which is founded upon the institution so pregnant with calamity basis of the Government of the Ca- to the Church of God as that of tholic Church, should be the ground Priestcraft. And though (he says) on which to make their stand. Forti-I think that the systems of religion fied by these principles they may scorn the attacks of their opponents; but if they ally themselves to duplicity and intrigue, they will sink into nothing, and become the just objects of derision and contempt.--If these remarks are just, and I believe the equity of them cannot be denied, then I do assert, that the address of the British Board to his Holiness was the most impolitic most in vogue ought to be denominated Priestianity instead of Christianity, I am by no means so illiberal as to as sert that all priests are hypocrites. I am seriously persuaded that numbers of them take office entirely through zeal and enthusiasm in the cause of Christ, and with the sole view to the salvation of souls, by bringing them within the pale of their conventicles... f Eo se inte With regard to the state religion, its | reprobated the evil tendency of this mischievous document with feelings of disgust and indignation, declaring it to be not only "dangerous in its consequences, but also ultimately tending to the subversion of our holy religion, by introducing a system of intrigue, the ministers are brought up in a more the tradesman-like manner, and are not Script likely to be so sincere and serious as those who are induced to officiate acred through the impulse of their own feelings, which is commonly termed "a call of God."-Although the minis-faction, and corruption among the ters of the established church are the Ministers of that Church, hitherto only persons named to elicit the obser- distinguished by the unity of her faith vations of the writer, I have no doubt and the strictness of her discipline." but his attack was likewise levelled at Following up these sentiments, the the ministry of the Catholic church; venerable Hierarchy, the faithful guarbut the present pure and disinterested dians of the depositary entrusted to state of this highly esteemed and ve- their care, deputed one of the most nerable body of men, did not permit learned and virtuous members of their him to notice them also as an illustra- body to Rome, for the sole purpose of tion of his position. But would this remonstrating against the rescript of sacred order be as free from the impu- Quarantotti. This conduct, so truly tation here fixed upon the established characteristic of their zeal and enthuclergy, were the rescript of Quaran- siasm in the cause of religion, was totti to be adopted? Would they not hailed with applause by every honourrather become equal objects of suspi- able mind, as dictated by_justice and cion if their appointments rested with supported by integrity. To adopt an the Ministers of the Crown, as is the opposite line of proceeding, of course, case with the state clergy? Would must be the height of folly and imthey be held in the same light by their prudence. To call for a measure which respective flocks, as they now are? would eventually confirm the slander Or rather, would it not loosen that of our foes; to solicit the confirmation bond of affection and attachment which of a document which would corrupt now and ever should exist between the integrity and debase independence; to pastor and the people, and produce a implore the spiritual power to give up fatal indifference in the latter to the its rights into the hands of its enemies; duties of their religion? That these is not only in the highest degree impounhappy consequences would inevita- litic, but little short of madness; yet bly flow from the adoption of the per- such is the tendency of this address of nicious system proposed in the rescript the British Board of Catholics. They our venerable clergy easily foresaw.- not only request the Holy Father to That it would furnish a handle to their sanction with his authority a rescript, enemies to traduce them, by robbing pronounced by the most pure and them of that spotless integrity, which spotless portion of the Catholic church the foul breath of calumny has never to be destructive in its tendency to the yet been able to sully, they felt fully peace, morals, and good order of the rel convinced. That it would eject them people, and subversive of the Catholic om from the high pinnacle of independence faith, but they have the presumption tiani on which they now stand, and lay to accuse this venerable body of men s to them prostrate at the feet of those who of being their BOSOM ENEMIES, naturally hate and despise them, they because they have constantly opposed were perfectly sensible. Alarmed, their unjust and irreligious measures. therefore, at the dangers which threat- Little more need be said upon this subened the probable destruction of the ject; the facts are too glaring to be Catholic religion in the two islands, contradicted; and this document I the Clergy of Ireland came forward trust has given a final stroke to the with the utmost alacrity and zeal, and intrigues of the addressers, at least in t 21 orde e is c 00 SE ed or 5 gree calam umb that |