understanding, as well as that of his will, and | suaded there would be no objection to a perfect that therefore we were as much bound to be. assurance being given, that parties to be aphieve the things He had revealed, as to do the pointed or promoted in the Catholic church things that He had ordered; and, therefore, should not have been educated or supported out that any one who, through his own fault, did of any such foreign fund. In his opinion, it not submit to the faith which God had revealed, would by no means be proper for the crown to and ordered to be believed, was to be considered have any direct or indirect interference in the as a sinner, and to be treated as such. It was appointment of the Catholic clergy; but there the belief of the Catholics with regard to them- could be no objection to the Government naming selves, as it was the belief of the members of a commission, consisting of prelates of the the Established Church with respect to them- Roman Catholic church, through whom the selves, that theirs was the faith revealed by loyalty and the domestic education and nominaChrist, and ordered to be believed. The Ca- tion of the several functionaries should be certholics wished all mankind to be saved; but tified to them. Ten years ago, the Pope had they were not to make a religion according to signified his readiness to acquiesce in such an their own wishes. With respect to Protestants, arrangement. He recollected the rescript of the however, Catholics did not hold that all who person called Quarantotti. The Roman Cawere not united externally to the Catholic tholic prelates protested against that rescript church were to be lost. All Protestants who very earnestly, on the ground that it allowed a were baptised, became, by the very act of bap- certain interference in the appointment of the tism, members of the church of Christ, children Catholic bishops in Ireland, which they thought of God, and heirs of everlasting life; and if would be injurious to the Catholic religion. they died at any period before they lost that Quarantotti was a very weak old man; but had innocence which was restored to them in bap- that rescript come from Pius VII. himself, the tism, and their consequent title to heaven, they Roman Catholic prelates would have equally would, of course, obtain that immortal kingdom. protested against it. It had never entered into At what period they might lose that title, or their minds, as a part of Catholic emancipation, whether they lost it at all, it was not for man that the Roman Catholic bishops should take to judge; it was the business of God, who saw their seats in the House of Lords, in which the into the secrets of hearts, and who knew the bishops of the Established Church took their opportunities which each individual had to seats as barons-a dignity they had from the arrive at a knowledge of the faith which He crown. Nor did there exist any hope or wish had revealed, and who would judge His crea- on the part of the Catholic clergy to interfere tures with mercy. The non-participation of with the temporal possessions of the Established the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church Church. Undoubtedly, the Catholics complained was considered heresy, when that non-participa- very much of the obligation of paying tithes to tion was culpable, which only God could know. Protestant clergymen. They paid two churches, There was a vulgar error, that the kingdom of from one of which they derived no return. He Ireland was a fief of the Popedom; there was believed that the disturbances with respect to no foundation for the assertion: it was annexed, tithes had chiefly taken place in those parts of and he hoped inseparably annexed, to Great Ireland where the tithe of potatoes was colBritain. Upon the subject of the Government lected. The insurrections in different parts of allowing a stipend to the Catholic priesthood in the south and west of Ireland had been directed Ireland, in the event of Catholic emancipation as much against the payment of dues to the being carried, he did not see any material ob- Roman Catholic clergy as against the payment jection to it; but supposing Catholic emancipa- of tithes to the Protestant. If an attempt were tion were not carried, he did not think it would made to relieve the peasantry from the payment be acceptable either to the people or to the of tithes, and to appropriate the landed prodergy. He should have no objection to a cer-perty of the church to the payment of bishops, tificate of loyalty being required, before such deans, and clergy, to the repair of the churches, allowance was paid to a clergyman, if that certificate were to come from the authorities of their church. Nor did he think there would be any objection to securing the domestic nomination of the bishops in the Roman Catholic church in Ireland. Neither should he consider it an The Most Reverend OLIVER KELLY, D.D. objectionable measure to prevent any foreigner Titular Archbishop of TUAM.-In his opinion from being appointed to a see or a benefice in the Pope derived his authority from Jesus the Catholic church in Ireland. He should Christ. He was the successor of St. Peter, and not like to give up wholly the foreign education; held the same rank in the church that St. Peter if, however, it should be deemed advisable for did among the apostles. The duty which the the security of the state, that that practice Roman Catholic owed to the Pope, and that should cease, and if an equivalent were given in which he owed to the King under whom he this country out of domestic funds, he was per-lived, were really and substantially distinct, to the encouragement of education, and to other purposes connected with church matters, he thought it would occasion a general feeling of satisfaction; and not less among Protestants than among Catholics. inasmuch as they regarded different matters. fices essential to the attainment of Catholic The duty which he owed the Pope was confined emancipation, inasmuch as he deemed that to to matters spiritual, ecclesiastical, and religious. be a paramount consideration. For the last That duty was by no means inconsistent with twenty-four years that he had been in Ireland, his social duties; it did not clash in any man- he had observed a very considerable increase in ner whatever with the civil allegiance which he the population of that part of the country where owed the King: on the contrary, his bounden he had been residing; but not so much in those duty, as a Catholic, was to pay obedience and districts in which the situation of the people submission to the civil authorities. It had never was improved. In those districts there was an been admitted as a doctrine of the universal indisposition to contract improvident marriages. church, that the Pope could exercise temporal He should say most decidedly, that every jurisdiction without the limits of his own ter-measure which had a tendency to augment the ritory: there might have been some individuals comfort of the peasant, and raise his condition who held that doctrine, but it never could be in society, had also a tendency to check improcalled or considered the doctrine of the Roman vident marriages. The general impression upon Catholic church. Roman Catholics prayed to his mind was, that the population of Ireland was the saints and to the Virgin Mary, not for under-rated in the returns made to Parliament. favours from themselves, but that through their The subdivision of land (which was frequently intercession favours might be obtained from resorted to by the landlords for the purpose God. Nor was there any divine worship of of increasing the number of freeholders) was images, idols, or relics in the Catholic church. one great cause of early marriages. The im The doctrine of indulgences did not by any pression upon his mind was, that the system of means imply the idea that sin could be remitted 40s. freeholds in Ireland was replete with misby them. Sin, according to the doctrine of the chief; that it was highly injurious to the morals Roman Catholic church, could never be forgiven of the people, being in many instances a source without a sincere and hearty sorrow,accompanied of perjury; and that it was not much valued by with a firm purpose and resolution of amending life, the 40s, freeholders themselves. There was There was no authority in the Catholic church, a very great deficiency in the character and and there never did exist an authority in the Ca- degree of accommodation afforded to the popu tholic church, assuming to itself the power of lation of the Catholic persuasion for the celebragiving leave or indulgence to commit sin at a fu- tion of religious worship; and he did not conture period. Nor was there the slightest truth in ceive that any act could be more acceptable to the accusation, that Roman Catholics held that the Catholics than to improve that accommodafaith was not to be kept with heretics, and that tion. From the inadequacy of the places of the Pope could absolve subjects from their oath worship, on performing parochial visitations, he of allegiance to their sovereign. In the part of had been almost in fact obliged to administer Ireland with which he was particularly ac- confirmation out in the open air. There was a quainted, the question of Catholic emancipation great disposition on the part of the people gene. engaged the thoughts and attention of all ranks rally to attend to their religious duties. That of Catholics; for though no particular or imme- disposition, however, varied very much according diate benefit might be derived from it by the to the state of tranquillity or of disturbance lower orders of Catholics, they would feel the which prevailed in the country. The inclina. utmost gratitude for it, and it would tend most tion to come to confession when the country materially towards tranquillising their minds. was in a state of disturbance diminished consi. As matters stood at present, he did not think derably; and he had invariably found that the that the payment of the Roman Catholic clergy individuals who ceased to come to confession by the state would be considered a boon by the were connected or concerned in the disturbance. lower orders. If the two measures, a provision At such periods, his influence, and that of the for the clergy and the removal of political dis- clergy generally, were very much impaired. abilities on account of religious persuasion were The pressure of tithes payable to Protestant made concurrent measures, it might then per- ministers was complained of generally, as opehaps be considered by the people a kindness; rating with peculiar severity upon the occupying provided the Roman Catholic clergy were al- tenant. He never knew any money paid with lowed the free exercise of their functions, and such alacrity, in his part of the country, as there were no influence or authority, direct or what was called the Catholic rent. In the indirect, exercised over them in the discharge of course of the last year there prevailed in Ireland their duties. What the feelings of the prelates generally a strong opinion on the subject of and the clergy might be on the occasion, he certain prophecies known by the name of Pastocould not undertake to say. As one of the rini's Prophecies. They certainly were not prelates of the church, he would candidly confess much read or understood in his part of the he should prefer remaining as he was. He was country; but he had heard that in other parts however disposed to make great sacrifices of his of Ireland they were extensively circulated. personal feelings on the subject, were such sacri- The clergy throughout his diocese had been instructed to announce to the peasantry that they ought not to read the Prophecies of Pastorini, should they come in their way, or any other prophecies whatever; or any books having a tendency to inflame their minds. and laity had been framed. An abstract of the answers was published with the address of the Catholic Committee of 1793. He subscribed to them with all his heart and soul; and, with the leave of the Committee, he would read the abstract, as well as the oaths and declaration. The Most Reverend PATRICK CURTIS, D.D. Titular Archbishop of ARMAGH.-A Roman Catholic believed that the Pope was the suc- The Answer of the Sacred Faculty of Divinity 'of Paris to the above Queries. cessor of St. Peter, and that he was no more than a bishop, but head or chief of them all, "After an introduction, according to the and of the whole church. He was not recog-"usual forms of the university, they answer nised as a king or a sovereign. The claim which the first query, by declaring, Neither the the Popes had formerly set up to temporal" Pope, nor the cardinals, nor any body of men, authority, although not exactly opposed to "nor any other person of the Church of Rome, Scripture and tradition, was not very conform-" hath any civil authority, civil power, civil able to them. Certainly they had received no "jurisdiction, or civil pre-eminence whatsuch power from Christ. The duty that Catho-"soever, in any kingdom, and consequently lics owed to the Pope, and their duty to the none in the kingdom of England, by King, were really and substantially distinct; reason or virtue of any authority, power, and, regarding different subjects totally, they" jurisdiction, or pre-eminence, by divine never ought to be confounded. If the question« institution, inherent in, or granted, or by commonly called emancipation were carried, in any other means, belonging to the Pope, his opinion it would have the effect of producing" or the Church of Rome. This doctrine conciliation and tranquillity in Ireland. There" the Sacred Faculty of Divinity at Paris would then be no sufficient motive for any persecution of the Catholics, who were now put down merely to maintain an ascendancy. An ascendancy there always would be; but not an ascendancy supported in a manner so repugnant and so disagreeable. There would be few or no" disputes in secular matters, and really none at all almost in religious matters, because now," the Committee might depend upon it, the reli-" gious disputes with the Catholics were not for religious but for secular purposes. has always held, and upon every occasion maintained; and upon every occasion has rigidly proscribed the contrary doctrine from "her schools. "Answer to the second query. Neither the Pope nor the cardinals, nor any body of men, nor any person of the Church of Rome, can, by virtue of the keys, absolve or release the subjects of the King of England from their oath of allegiance. "This and the first query are so intimately The Right Reverend JAMES MAGAURIN, “ connected, that the answer of the first immeD.D., Titular Bishop of the Diocese of AR-"diately and naturally applies to the second, DAGH. Recollected the communication with " &c. foreign universities, in 1788, on matters relat- "Answer to the third query. There is no ing to the authority of the Pope. Mr. Pitt in" tenet in the Catholic Church by which Cathat year called upon the Committee of the "tholics are justified by not keeping faith with English Roman Catholics to send the following "heretics, or those who differ from them in queries to those universities :-First, "Has the " matters of religion; the tenet, that it is “Pope or cardinals, or any body of men, or any" lawful to break faith with heretics, is so re“individual of the Church of Rome, any civil" pugnant to common honesty, and the opinions "authority, power, jurisdiction, or pre-emi-" of Catholics, that there is nothing of which “nence whatsoever, within the realm of Eng-“those who have defended the Catholic faith "land?" Secondly, "Can the Pope, cardi-" against Protestants have complained more "nals, or any body of men, or any individual "heavily, than the malice and calumny of ❝ of the Church of Rome, absolve or dispense" their adversaries in imputing this tenet to "with his Majesty's subjects from their oath them, &c. &c. &c. " of allegiance, upon any pretext whatsoever ?" Thirdly, "Is there any pretext in the tenets 66 "Given at Paris, in the General Assembly of the Sorbonne, held on Thursday, the 11th "day before the calends of March, 1789. Signed in due form." 66 "University of Louvain. of the Catholic faith by which Catholics are “justified in not keeping faith with heretics, "or other persons differing from them in religious opinions, in any transaction, either of a "public or a private nature ?" The answers "The Faculty of Divinity at Louvain having to those questions were contained at length in" been requested to give her opinion upon the Mr. Butler's Memoirs. They were the same "questions above stated, does it with readiin substance; contained a doctrine that was ad-"ness; but struck with astonishment that such mitted to be correct by the Catholic bishops and" questions should, at the end of this eighteenth hity of Ireland; and on them he believed the" century, be proposed to any learned body by caths of allegiance taken by the Catholic clergy "inhabitants of a kingdom that glories in "the talents and discernment of its natives: " Britain from their oaths of allegiance, or dis. "the Faculty being assembled for the above" pense with their obligation. purpose, it is agreed, with the unanimous assent of all voices, to answer the first and "second queries absolutely in the negative. "To the third it is answered, That the obli"gation of keeping faith is grounded on the "law of nature, which binds all men equally, "The Faculty does not think it incumbent" without respect to their religious opinions; upon her, in this place, to enter upon the" and with regard to Catholics is still more "proofs of her opinion, or to shew how it is" cogent, as it is confirmed by the principles of "supported by passages in the Holy Scriptures," their religion. or the writings of antiquity; that has already "been done by Bossuet, De Marca, the two 66 86 Barclays, Goldastres, the Pithæuses, Ar "Signed in the usual form, February 17th, 1789." 14th of George III. gentre Widrington, and his Majesty King The Oath required by the Act of the 13th and "James the First, in his Dissertation against "Bellarmine and Du Perron; and by many "others, &c. &c. &c. "I, A. B. do take Almighty God, and his "only Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer, to "The Faculty then proceeds to declare, that" witness, That I will be faithful, and bear "the sovereign power of the State is in no- "true allegiance to our most gracious Sovereign "wise (not even indirectly, as it is termed)" Lord King George the Third, and him will "subject to, or dependent upon, any other" defend, to the utmost of my power, from all 66 power, though it be a spiritual power, or "conspiracies and attempts whatever, that even though it be instituted for eternal sal-" shall be made against his person, crown, and "vation, &c. &c. "dignity; and I will do my utmost endeavour “That no man, nor any assembly of men," to disclose and make known to his Majesty, "however eminent in dignity and power, nor "and his heirs, all treasons and traitorous con even the whole body of the Catholic Church," spiracies which may be formed against him "though assembled in general council, can," or them. And I do faithfully promise to "upon any ground or pretence whatsoever," maintain, support, and defend, to the utmost "weaken the bond of union between the Sove-" of my power, the succession of the crown in "reign and the people; still less can they ab- "his Majesty's family, against any person or "solve or free the subjects from their oath of "allegiance. " persons whatsoever, hereby utterly renounc "ing and abjuring any obedience or allegiance " unto the person taking upon himself the style "Proceeding to the third question, the said "Faculty of Divinity (in perfect wonder that" and title of Prince of Wales, in the lifetime "such a question should be proposed to her)" of his father, and who since his death is said "most positively and unequivocally answers, "to have assumed the style and title of King of "that there is not, and there never has been "Great Britain and Ireland, by the name of 66 among the Catholics, or in the doctrines of "Charles the Third; and to any other person, "the Church of Rome, any law or principle" claiming or pretending a right to the crown "which makes it lawful for Catholics to break" of these realms; and I do swear, that I do "their faith with heretics, or others of a dif- " reject and detest, as unchristian and impious, "ferent persuasion from themselves in matters" to believe that it is lawful to murder or "of religion, either in public or private con- "destroy any person or persons whatsoever, cerns. The Faculty declares the doctrine of" for or under pretence of their being heretics; "the Catholics to be, that the divine and na- "and also that unchristian and impious prin"tural law, which makes it a duty to keep faith" ciple, that no faith is to be kept with heretics. "and promises, is the same, and is neither" I further declare, that it is no article of my "shaken nor diminished, if those with whom "the engagement is made hold erroneous "opinions in matter of religion, &c. &c. "faith, and that I do renounce, reject, and "abjure the opinion, that princes excommuni. "cated by the Pope and council, or by any "Signed in due form, on the 18th of "authority of the see of Rome, or by any au. November, 1788." "University of Valladolid. "thority whatsoever, may be deposed and mur"dered by their subjects, or by any person "whatsoever; and I do promise, that I will "To the first question it was answered, That" not hold, maintain, or abet any such opinion, "neither Pope, cardinals, nor even a general" or any other opinion contrary to what is ex"Church, have any civil authority, power," pressed in this declaration; and I do declare, "jurisdiction, or pre-eminence, directly or in-" that I do not believe that the Pope of Rome, "directly, in the kingdom of Great Britain, or" or any other foreign prince, prelate, state, or “over any other kingdom or province in which" potentate, hath or ought to have any temporal "they possess no temporal dominion. or civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or "To the second it is answered, That neither "pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within "Pope, nor cardinals, nor even a general" this realm; and I do solemnly, in the pre"council, can absolve the subjects of Great" sence of God, and his only Son Jesus Christ 66 my Redeemer, profess, testify, and declare," disturb and weaken the Protestant religion, "and Protestant government, in this kingdom. "So help me God." The Declaration. "Whereas certain opinions and principles, "that I do make this declaration, and every 66 part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense "of the words of this oath, without any evasion, "equivocation, or mental reservation whatever, "and without any dispensation already granted "by the Pope, or any authority of the see of" inimical to good order and government, have Rome, or any person whatever, and without" been attributed to the Catholics, the existence "thinking that I am, or can be acquitted be-" of which we utterly deny; and whereas it is "fore God or man, or absolved of this decla-" at this time peculiarly necessary to remove ❝ration, or any part thereof, although the Pope," such imputations, and to give the most full or any other persons or authority whatsoever" and ample satisfaction to our Protestant bre"shall dispense with, or annul the same, or "thren, that we hold no principle whatsoever, "declare that it was null and void from the "incompatible with our duty as men or as beginning. So help me God." “ subjects, or repugnant to liberty, whether "political, civil, or religious. The Oath required by the Act of the 33d of "I, A. B. do hereby declare, that I do pro"fess the Roman Catholic religion. 66 "Now we, the Catholics of Ireland, for the "removal of all such imputations, and in deference to the opinions of many respectable "bodies of men, and individuals, among our "I, A. B. do swear, that I do abjure, con- "Protestant brethren, do hereby, in the face of demn, and detest, as unchristian and impious," our country, of all Europe, and before God, "the principle, that it is lawful to murder, "make this our deliberate and solemn declaradestroy, or anyways injure, any person what-"tion. soever, for or under the pretence of being a "1st. We abjure, disavow, and condemn the "heretic; and I do declare solemnly, before" opinion, that princes excommunicated by the "God, that I believe that no act, in itself un- "Pope and council, or by any ecclesiastical “just, immoral, or wicked, can ever be justified" authority whatsoever, may therefore be de or excused by or under pretence or colour" posed or murdered by their subjects, or any "that It was done either for the good of the "other persons. We hold such doctrine in "church or in obedience to any ecclesiastical" detestation, as wicked and impious; and we power whatsoever. I also declare, that it is" declare, that we do not believe that either the "not an article of the Catholic faith, neither" Pope, with or without a general council, or any prelate or priest, or any ecclesiastical power whatsoever, can absolve the subjects "of this kingdom, or any of them, from their allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, who is, by authority of Parliament, am 66 I thereby required to believe or profess, "that the Pope is infallible; or that I am "bound to obey any order in its own nature "immoral, though the Pope, or any ecclesi-" "astical power, should issue or direct such" "order; but, on the contrary, I hold, that it" the lawful king of this realm. "would be sinful in me to pay any respect or "2d. We abjure, condemn, and detest, as "obedience thereto. I further declare, that "unchristian and impious, the principle, that "I do not believe that any sin whatsoever," it is lawful to murder, destroy, or anyways “committed by me, can be forgiven at the" injure, any person whatsoever, for or under "mere will of any Pope, or of any priest, or of "the pretence of being heretics; and we deany persons whatsoever; but that sincere" clare solemnly, before God, that we believe "that no act, in itself unjust, immoral, or "wicked, can ever be justified or excused by or under pretence or colour that it was done 66 66 64 66 "sites to establish a well-founded expectation" either for the good of the church or in obe "of forgiveness; and that any person who "dience to any ecclesiastical power whatso"receives absolution, without these previous remission of his sins, incurs the additional "an unchristian and impious principle, that no guilt of violating a sacrament: and I do" faith is to be kept with heretics: this docswear, that I will defend, to the utmost of" trine we detest and reprobate, not only as my power, the settlement and arrangement contrary to our religion, but as destructive of property in this country, as established by" morality, of society, and even of common the laws now in being. I do hereby disclaim," honesty; and it is our firm belief, that an "disavow, and solemnly abjure, any intention" oath made to any person not of the Catholic "to subvert the present church establishment," religion, is equally binding as if it were made "for the purpose of substituting a Catholic" to any Catholic whatsoever. 66 of "establishment in its stead; and I do solemnly "4th. We have been charged with holding, as swear, that I will not exercise any privilege" an article of our belief, that the Pope, with 64 to which I am or may become entitled, to "or without the authority of a general council, |