Pontifical Oath.

London, April 15, 1796.

In consequence of the proceedings of the infatuated people in some parts of Ireland, called Defenders, reports have been circulated highly injurious to the Court and See of Rome, and which, if unchecked, may hereafter be destructive to many salutary arrangements of civil policy intimately connected with the interests of his Majesty's Government. The conviction of a man of the name of Levery at the last Belfast Assizes, for administering an oath "to be true to the Duke of York and his Committees," has been cited as a presumption that there is still a considerable remnant of persons active in the desperate cause of restoring the proscribed family of Stuart, and probably finding abettors at Rome.

On such an occasion, it seems an act of strict justice to refer to authentic documents which sufficiently manifest the anxiety of the See of Rome for the peace and good order of these kingdoms. Of this description is the Brief of the reigning Sovereign Pontiff to the Bishop of Leon now in London, as are the Letters of the Congregation of the Propaganda to the Catholic Clergy of his Majesty's dominions lately printed (published by J. P. Coghlan, No. 37, Duke Street, Grosvenor Square). That of the 7th of February, 1795, after pathetically inculcating the principles of loyalty, obedience to magistrates, &c., has these pointed words :

"Quod quidem maximè postulat, suoque quasi jure exigit optimi istius Regis Georgii III. beneficentia, sub cujus miti ac suavi imperio degentes, Catholici tam longé abest ut durum ac grave jugum perferre cogantur, ut potius a gravioribus quibus antea obstricti erant conditionibus liberati, priveligiis instructi, militaribus copiis adscripti, et Catholicæ juventutis instituendæ venia impetrata, omni beneficiorum genere cumulati sint." 1

1 This is what is specially demanded and required, as it were, of right, by the beneficence of that most excellent King George III., under whose

In addition to these documents, it is also highly interesting to advert to the Pastoral Instruction of the Catholic Archbishop Troy to the Archdiocese of Dublin, of which the following is an extract :—

The Roman Catholic Archbishops of Ireland, at their last meeting in Dublin, addressed a Letter to the Pope, wherein they described the misrepresentations that had been recently published of their Consecration Oath, and the great injury to the Catholic body, arising from them: they expressed their fullest conviction that the oath obliging them only to canonical obedience to his Holiness, and communion with the centre of unity, was perfectly reconcileable with their loyalty as subjects and the allegiance they had sworn to their gracious Sovereign King George III. They professed a determination to observe both oaths, and to preserve their communion with the Holy See inviolate: reflecting, however, on the ignorance of most Protestants respecting the Oath, which they seemed only acquainted with from the calumnious publications against it, the prelates abovementioned suggested to the Pope that some declaration or explanation of the Oath, and particularly of the words Hæreticos persequar et impugnabo, from himself, or by his authority, would probably remove the alarms of well-meaning Protestants, and confound the prejudiced who, by their misrepresentations of the Oath, endeavoured to blast the prospects and expectations of the Catholics to obtain an emancipation from the penal code; which they had reason to hope for, from the clemency of his Majesty and the wisdom of the Legislature.

After due deliberation at Rome, the Congregation of Cardinals appointed to superintend the ecclesiastical affairs of

mild and benign sway the Catholics, so far from being obliged to wear a galling and heavy yoke, have been liberated, on the contrary, from the more onerous conditions by which they were before restricted, endowed with privileges, admitted into the military service, permitted to instruct the Catholic youth, and loaded with all sorts of benefits.

these kingdoms returned the following answer, by the authority and command of his Holiness ;-it is faithfully translated from the Latin original.

Most Illustrious and most Reverend Lords and Brothers— We perceive, from your late letter, the great uneasiness you labour under since the publication of a pamphlet, entitled "The present state of the Church of Ireland,” from which our detractors have taken occasion to renew the old calumny against the Catholic religion with increased acrimony, namely, that this religion is by no means compatible with the safety of Kings and Republics: because, as they say, the Roman Pontiff, being the father and master of all Catholics, and invested with such great authority that he can free the subjects of other kingdoms from their fidelity and oaths of allegiance to Kings and Princes, he has it in his power, they contend, to cause disturbances, and injure the public tranquillity of kingdoms. with ease. We wonder that you could be uneasy at these complaints, especially after your most excellent brother and apostolic fellow-labourer, the Archbishop of Cashel, (the late truly excellent Dr. James Butler, who departed this life in July, 1791; a most zealous, pious prelate and loyal subject), and other strenuous defenders of the rights of the Holy See, had evidently refuted and explained away these slanderous reproaches, in their celebrated writings. What advantage then can result from any new declaration of this apostolical See, which you request, for the purpose of defending, explaining, and vindicating her rights from accusations? It would only tend to raise up fresh enemies against the Catholic faith itself; for it is the design and determination of evil-minded men in these times to combat the very faith, under the pretence of attacking the rights of the apostolical See; and to overturn and destroy the union with the apostolical chair of Peter, which Catholic churches all over the world stedfastly preserve. Be not then dismayed at these attempts; their calumnies have been already often refuted; so that all they can do now

is to revive the old ones as new, to muster up their scattered forces, to weave over again the same flimsy cobwebs. That most holy bishop, not less celebrated for his wisdom than his piety, St. Francis of Sales, was perfectly convinced, that these reproaches were repeated and propagated amongst the vulgar, merely to raise tumult, and to render weak minds uneasy; of this he has recorded a clear testimony in his 764th Letter, vol. vi. edit. Paris, 1758; which we earnestly advise you not only to peruse, but likewise to consider it as a prudent regulation to direct your conduct. Do you also discover the treachery in like manner, and teach the people committed to your care what is right; that they may learn to avoid the snares that are laid for them, lest they should go astray. This, as being not only becoming your piety, but also deriving from your authority, will make a deeper impression on the minds of the faithful committed to your pastoral care, and will prove your vindication against the calumnies of slanderers. We judge from our opinion of your learning that the rights of the apostolical See cannot be unknown to you, and that you are not unacquainted with the arguments by which they can be supported. In this controversy, a most accurate discrimination should be made between the genuine rights of the apostolical See, and those that are imputed to it by innovators of this age, for the purpose of calumniating. The See of Rome never taught that Faith is not to be kept with the Heterodox: that an Oath to Kings separated from Catholic Communion can be violated: that it is lawful for the Bishop of Rome to invade their temporal rights and dominions. We do consider an attempt or design against the life of Kings and Princes, even under the pretext of Religion, as a horrid and detestable crime.

His Holiness Pius VI. has not, however, disregarded your requests; and, therefore, in order effectually to remove every occasion of cavil and calumny, which, as you write, some borrow from the words in the form of the oath of obedience to the apostolical See, that bishops are required to take at their con

VOL. III.

K

secration, I will prosecute and oppose heretics, &c. to the utmost of my power; which words are maliciously interpreted as the signal of war against heretics, authorizing persecution and assault against them, as enemies, whereas the pursuit and opposition to heretics, which the bishops undertake, are to be understood as referring to their solicitude and efforts in convincing heretics of their error, and procuring their reconciliation with the Catholic Church; his Holiness has graciously condescended to substitute, in place of the ancient form of oath, that one which was publicly repeated by the Archbishop of Mohilow, to the great satisfaction of all the Court of Petersburgh, in presence of the Empress; and which we transmit to you with this letter.

Mean time, most illustrious prelates, you who are the sentinels of the Lord, and, by the inspiration of divine grace and the favour of the apostolical See, have undertaken the administration of these most respectable Irish Sees, adhere with firmness to this chair of Peter, in which the Lord has deposited the word of truth; preach the Gospel of Christ in all patience and doctrine show yourselves on all occasions the example of good works, in learning, in integrity, in gravity, the sound word irreprehensible. If you conduct yourselves in this manner as we do not doubt but you do, and will continue to do with increased ardour, you will not only, by your fortitude and constancy, set those ill-contrived calumnies at defiance, but even your adversaries shall be ashamed, having no evil to say of you.

:

In reality, who is there that does not know what the Roman Church, the mother and mistress of all others, preaches, teaches, and commands, on the duty of obedience from subjects to earthly powers? At the very commencement of the yet infant Church, blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, in

1 No one word in the English language corresponds exactly to persequar, as used here. It never signifies persecution. We have adopted the Bishop of Cloyne's translation of it.-See Dr. Butler's Justification, page 85, et seq.