Papal Interference by J. O. Corliss

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1875

Papal Interference.

By J. O. Corliss

SPAIN, ever since that country emerged from barbarism and idolatry, has been ruled almost absolutely by the pope of Rome, and the people have been oppressed and afflicted by an intolerant and over-zealous priesthood. This state of things is not to be wondered at, since the children are placed under the instruction of the clergy, and Catholic children almost invariably make Catholic men and women.

Certain concessions, to be perpetual, were made by the Spanish government to the see of Rome at the time that the compact, known as the concordat, was entered into between them. The conditions of this compact were not complied with during the overthrow of the monarchy and the brief existence of the republic, and a disposition was manifested by many of the republican leaders to entirely liberate the country from papal control. This caused a deadly hostility on the part of the pope against the republic, and by continual plotting with the priests, he finally succeeded in overthrowing it.

Alphonso and Don Carlos, the two aspirants for the Spanish throne, are both Catholics; hence, during the civil war waged between them during the last two years, the pope has held a neutral position. But of late a liberal ministry has been formed at Madrid, and the pope, to keep his pretensions alive, has sent a formal demand to the bishop of Madrid for a compliance with the conditions already referred to, which we find summarized in a secular weekly as follows:—

“It claims the fulfillment of the concordat, which forbids the exercise of any non-Catholic creed, requires the transfer of the superintendence of education to the clergy, and pledges the co-operation of the secular power in suppressing heretical teaching and literature. He says one of the causes of civil law is the way in which religious unity has been misunderstood by previous governments. For these reasons, and in view of these consequences, the holy see believes itself strictly obliged to present these observations to the government.”

The pope’s position may not be mistaken. If the liberal Spanish ministry does not comply with these demands, then he will practice the same crafty policy ever employed by Rome to carry out her wicked designs, and every effort will be made to cause distraction and promote civil strife in that now almost impoverished country, until they will be obliged to yield to his unreasonable claims.

Although these affairs may not directly concern the people of America, yet indirectly they do, as they show us that Catholicism has not changed from what it was in the days of the inquisition, and wherever it gains a foothold, we see a revival of the same arbitrary spirit, which is a deadly foe to all systems except its own. This may now be seen in the demands already made upon some of our larger cities where it has gained an ascendancy, the influence of which is beginning to be felt already upon other religious denominations of the land, and which it is determined shall increase until that influence shall sway in the deliberations of the nation. May we not, then, reasonably look for the speedy fulfillment of the prophecies relative to this power? We shall soon see what these things mean. J. O. CORLISS.