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perfect wonder that such a question should be proposed to her) most positively and unequivocally answers-That there is not, and there never has been, among the Catholics, or in the doctrines of the church of Rome, any law or principle which makes it lawful for Catholics to break their faith with Heretics, or others of a different persuasion from themselves in matters of religion, either in public or private con

cerns.

The faculty declares the doctrine of the Catholics to be, that the divine and natural law, which makes it a duty to keep faith and promises, is the same and is neither shaken nor diminished, if those with whom the engagement is made, hold erroneous opinions in matters of religion, &c. &c.

Signed in due form on the 18th of November, 1788.

UNIVERSITY OF ALCALA.

To the first question it is answered-That none of the persons mentioned in the proposed question, either individually, or collectively in counsel assembled, have any right in civil matters: but that all civil power, jurisdiction and pre-eminence are derived from inheritance, election, the consent of the people, and other such titles of that nature.

To the second it is answered, in like manner-That none of the persons above-mentioned have a power to absolve the subjects of his Britannic majesty from their oaths of allegiance.

To the third question it is answered That the doctrine which would exempt Catholics from the obligation of keeping faith with Heretics, or with any other persons who dissent from them in matters of religion, instead of being an article of Catholic faith, is entirely repugnant to its tenets.

Signed in the usual form, March 17th, 1789.

UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA.

To the first question it is answered-That neither pope, nor cardinals, nor any assembly or individual of the Catholic church, have, as such, any civil authority, power, jurisdiction or pre-eminence in the kingdom of England.

To the second it is answered-That neither pope nor cardinals, nor any assembly or individual of the Catholic church, can, as such, absolve the subjects of Great Britain from their oaths of allegiance, or dispense with its obligations.

To the third it is answered-That it is no article of Catholic faith, with Heretics, or with persons of any other description, who dissent from them in matters of religion.

Signed in the usual form, March 7th, 1789.

UNIVERSITY OF VALLADOLID.

To the first question it is answered-That neither pope, cardinals, or even ageneral council, have any civil' authority, power, jurisdiction or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, in the kingdom of Great Britain: or over any other kingdom or province in which they possess no temporal dominion.

To the second it is answered-That neither pope nor cardinals, nor even a general council, can absolve the subjects of Great Britain from their oaths of allegiance, or dispense with their obligation.

To the third it is answered-That the obligation of keeping faith is grounded on the law of nature, which binds all men equally, without respect to their religious opinions; and with regard to Catholics, it is still more cogent, as it is confirmed by the principles of their religion. Signed in the usual form, February 17th, 1789.

[To the declaration of the universities, it will not be amiss to add also, the declaration of Pius VI. of venerable memory, in a letter to the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland.]

"The Roman Catholic Archbishops of Ireland, at their meeting in Dublin, in 1791, 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...........

"After due deliberation at Rome, the Congregation of Cardinals appointed to superintend the ecclesiastial affairs of these kingdoms, returned an answer (of which the following is an extract) by the authority and command of of his holiness:

"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 compa

The original Latin will be found in opposite columns in Dr. Troy's Pastoral Instruction, 1793-(Coghlan, Duke-street.)

tible 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 apostolical fellow-labourer, the Archbishop of Cashel,* and other strenuous defenders of the rights of the Holy See, had evidently refuted, and explained away these slanderous reproaches, in their celebrated writings."-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 caluminating. The See of Rome never taught, that faith is not to be kept with the heterodox:-that an oath to kings separated from the Catholic Communion, can be violated:-that it is lawful for the Bishop of Rome to invade their temporal rights and dominions. We too consider an attempt or design against the life of Kings and Princes even under the pretext of religion, as an HORRID and DETESTABLE

CRIME.

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." At the very commencement of the yet infant church, bles-. sed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, instructing the faithful, exhorted them in these words:-Be ye subject to every human creature for God's sake, whether it be to the king as excelling, or to governors as sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of the good; for so is the will of God, that by doing well you may silence the ignor ance of foolish men. The Catholic church being directed by these precepts, the most renowned champions of the Christian name replied to the gentiles when raging against them, as enemies of the empire, with furious hatred; we are constantly praying, (Tertullian in Apologet. chap. xxx.) that all the emperors may enjoy long life, quiet govern ment, a loyal household, a brave army, a faithful senate, an honest people and general tranquillity. The Bishops of Rome, successors of Peter, have not ceased to inculcate this doctrine, especially to mission; aries, lest any ill-will should be excited against the professors of the Catholic faith, in the minds of those who are enemies of the Christian name. We pass over the illustrious proofs of this fact preserved in the records of ancient Roman Pontiffs; of which yourselves are not ignorant. We think proper, notwithstanding, to remind you of a late admonition of the most wise Pope Benedict XIV. who in his regulations for the English missions, which are likewise applicable to you, speaks thus:-The vicars Apostolic are to take diligent care that the missionaries behave on all occasions with integrity and decorum, and thus be

*Dr. James Butler.

coane good modes to others; and particularly that they be always ready to celebrate the sacred offices, to communicate proper instructions to the people, and to comfort the sick with their assistance; that they by all means avoid public assemblies of idle men, and taverns......

The Vicars themselves are particularly charged to punish in such manmer as they can, but severely, all those who do not speak of the public government with respect.”

"England herself can witness the deep-rooted impressions such admonitions have made on the minds of Catholics. It is well known that in the late war, which had extended to the greater part of America, when most flourishing provinces, inhabited, almost by persons separated from the Catholic church, had renounced the government of the King of Great-Britain; the province of Canada alone, filled as it is almost with innumerable Catholics, although artfully tempted, and not yet forgetful of the old French government, remained most faithful in its allegiance to England. Do you, most excellent Prelates, converse frequently on these principles; often remind your suffragan Prelates of them: when preaching to your people, exhort them again and again to honour all men, to love the brotherhood, to fear God, to honour the king.

"Those duties of a Christian are to be cherished in every kingdom and state, but particularly in your own of Great Britain and Ireland, where, from the benevolence of a most wise king, and other most excellent rulers of those kingdoms towards Catholics, no cruel and grievous burden is imposed; and Catholics themselves experience a mild and gentle government. If you pursue this line of conduct unanimously; if you act in the spirit of charity; if, while you direct the people of the Lord you have nothing in view but the salvation of souls, adversaries will be ashamed (we repeat it) to calumniate, and will freely acknowledge that the Catholic faith is of heavenly descent, and calculated not only to procure a blessed life, but likewise, as St. Augustin observes in his 138th letter, addressed to Marcellinus, to promote the most lasting peace of this earthly city, inasmuch as it is the safest prop and shield of kingdoms. Let those who say (the words are those of the holy Doctor) that the doctrine of Christ is hostile to the Republic, produce an army of such soldiers as the doctrine of Christ has required; let them furnish such inhabitants of provinces, such husbands, such wives, such parents, such children, such masters, such servants, such kings, such judges, finally such payers of debts and collectors of the revenue, as the doctrine of Christ enjoins; and then they may dare to assert that it is inimical to the republic: rather let them not hesitate to acknowledge that it is, when practised, of great advantage to the republic. The same holy Doctor, and all the other fathers of the church, with one voice, most clearly demonstrate by inviucible argnments, that the whole of this salutary doctrine cannot exist with permanent consistency and stability; or flourish except in the catholic. society, which is spread and preserved all over the world by commu-

nion with the See of Rome as a sacred bond of union, divinely con-
necting both. From our very high esteem and affection for you, we
earnestly wish that the great God may very long preserve you safe.
Farewell.

Rome, 23 June, 1791.

As your Lordship's most affectionate brother,

L. CARDINAL ANTONELLI, Prefect,

A. ARCHBISHOP OF ADEN, Secretary."

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