p. 9 | The Medieval Spirit of the Papacy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 25, 1912

The Medieval Spirit of the Papacy

By William Warren Prescott

The new American cardinals, Farley and O’Connell, have already expressed their own estimate of the dignity which belongs to a so-called prince of the Roman Catholic Church. They have already given to the American people an exhibition of that intolerant spirit and of that haughty disregard of the feelings and rights of others which have for centuries characterized the Roman hierarchy. The justification of these statements follows.

When H. R. H., the Duke of Connaught, governor-general of Canada, a prince of England’s reigning house, visited the United States in January, Cardinal Farley was invited to two of the festivities given in New York City in the duke’s honor, but he declined to attend. A third invitation was not extended to him, when inquiry established the fact that he would not accept. The explanation of the cardinal’s refusal, as given in the public press, is that he objected to the custom of submitting to royalty the names of all prospective guests at functions which royalty is to grace. As a spiritual prince, Cardinal Farley declined to concede that his presence at the festivities should be made the subject of approval or disapproval of an English temporal prince. So much for Cardinal Farley’s dignity.

The other circumstance relates to Cardinal O’Connell. The Charitable Irish Society of Boston gave a banquet on the eve of St. Patrick’s day, to which President Taft, Governor Foss of Massachusetts, and Cardinal O’Connell were invited. In making the arrangements for seating the distinguished guests, it had been decided to give President Taft the first place, Governor Foss second, and Cardinal O’Connell third place; but when this fact became known, the cardinal demanded that he should be subordinate only to the President of the United States, and that he should precede Governor Foss in honor both at the table and in the list of speakers. As no Roman Catholic would dare to disobey the command of a cardinal, the change was made; but when Governor Foss learned of the fact, he declined to attend the banquet, on the ground that higher honor should not be paid to the representative of a foreign power than to the chief executive of the commonwealth.

There has been of late so much truckling to the Roman Catholic Church on the part of politicians of all parties and ranks that the action of Governor Foss stands out in marked contrast with the course taken by other public officials, and his refusal to sacrifice the dignity of the state to the demands of a so-called prince of the Roman Catholic Church is worthy of the highest commendation.

One can hardly read the facts here set forth without calling to mind the statement of Pope Gregory VII “that all princes should kiss his [the Pope’s] feet only,” and without meditating upon those little episodes of history, such as the humbling of Henry IV at Canossa, the excommunication of various kings and princes, and the interference of popes in the affairs of state when they were able to dictate to rulers. The Papacy has never abated one jot of her claims to be above the state, and whenever and wherever it has been possible to do so, these claims have been asserted.

Will the medieval spirit of the Papacy triumph over the republicanism of America?

W. W. P.