The American Cardinal's Oath.
WE inquired a day or two ago, into the nature of the mysterious oath which Cardinal McClosky must have taken, but of which no report appeared in the New York papers. We are able to answer the question, quoting the text from the copy furnished to Lord Palmerston, in 1850, by the British Minister at Turin. It is as follows:— "I, ________, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, do promise and swear that, from this time to my life's end, I will be faithful and obedient unto St. Peter, the Holy Apostolic Roman Church, and our most Holy Lord, the Pope and his successors, canonically and lawfully elected; that I will give no advice, consent or assistance against the Pontifical Majesty, and person; that I will never knowingly or advisedly, to their injury or disgrace, make public the counsels entrusted to me by themselves, or by messengers or letters (from them); also, that I will give them any assistance in retaining, defending and recovering the Roman Papacy and the regalia of Peter, with all my might and endeavor, so far as the rights and privileges of my order will allow it, and will defend against all their honor and state; that I will direct and defend, with due form and honor the legates and nuncios of the Apostolic See, in the territories, churches and monasteries and other benefices committed to my keeping; that I will cordially co-operate with them, and treat them with honor in their coming, abiding and returning, and that I will resist unto blood all persons whatsoever who shall attempt anything against them; that I will, by every way and by every means, strive to preserve, augment, and advance the rights, honors, privileges, the authority of the Holy Roman Bishop, our Lord the Pope, and his before-mentioned successors; and that at whatever time anything shall be decided to their prejudice, which it is out of my power to prevent, as soon as I shall know that any steps or measures have been taken in the matter; I will make it known to the same our Lord, our before-mentioned successors, or to some other person by whose means it may be brought to their knowledge. That I will keep and carry out, and cause others to keep and carry out, the rules of the Holy Father, the decrees, ordinances, dispensations, reservations, provisions, apostolic mandates and constitutions of the Holy Pontiff Sixtus of happy memory as to visiting the thresholds of the apostles at certain prescribed times, according to the tenor of that which I have just read through. That I will seek out and oppose, prosecute and fight against (Latin—omni conatu persecuturum et impugnaturum) heretics, schismatics against the same our Lord the Pope and his before-mentioned successors with every possible effort." The remainder of the oath provides in detail not to sell or give away, or otherwise alienate any church property without due authority; to maintain the "constitution of the blessed Pius" of 1507; and the declarations of his successors, particularly those of Innocent IX, 1591, and those of Clement VIII, 1592. It also engages to maintain the Papal claims to various Italian cities, and closes with the words: "I will not seek absolution from any of the foregoing articles, but reject it if it should be offered me (or in no way accept it if offered), so help me God, and these most holy Gospels." How any American citizen can reconcile honest allegiance to our national and State Constitutions and laws with this complete and abject devotion to a foreign potentate, we cannot see. It is no mere theoretical obedience that is promised. On the contrary, should a band of devout Catholic filibusterers, or a Spanish army resolve to drive the government of Italy—a power with which our nation is at peace—from Rome, the Cardinal would be pledged to give the assailants all the aid in his power. Should any legate or nuncio get into trouble with any government, the Cardinal must defend them "unto blood." He must play the spy for the Holy See; must obey the mandates of the persecuting Pontiffs of the sixteenth century, and must use "every possible effort," even to persecuting and fighting against the heretics and schismatics who oppose the Pope reigning when the oath was taken, and his successors. Now, as the encyclical of Pius IX., of 1864, often quoted in our columns, clearly denounces as wicked, freedom of religion and other fundamental doctrines of our national constitution, it follows that an American Cardinal must pledge himself to overturn the government by which he is protected. If Cardinal McClosky took any other oath than the one from which we have quoted, it would be satisfactory to see it in print.—Cincinnati Gazette, May 3.