Catholics and the Pope’s Temporal Power
The Independent, some time since, in commenting on the address of the cardinal and bishops of the United States to the Pope, said that "the most intelligent Catholics do not want the Pope to have temporal power." And this sentiment is often heard from Protestants who are endeavoring to persuade themselves that there is no danger. But is it true? Referring to this utterance of the Independent the Catholic Review of March 9 says:— "Will the Independent kindly tell us who are 'the intelligent Catholics' of the country? Are they the spiritual rulers of the church, who have told plainly in their letter the wrongs the Holy Father has suffered at the hands of the invading Government, and thus voiced the sentiments of the many millions of the faithful and educated Catholics of the republic, or are 'the intelligent Catholics' restricted to the writers whose pens are at the service of the enemy, through the columns of the Independent?" Every true Roman Catholic is in favor of the restoration of the Pope's temporal power, and when crucial tests come, they will fall into line and shoulder to shoulder oppose any power that opposes the Papacy. "Be not deceived;" "Rome never changes."