Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

DANGER rs THE DARK. 247
mission to the decrees of the Roman pontiffs against
the motion of the earth.' Such language as this, contrary
to their inward convictions, learned men were
compelled to adopt in Catholic countries, no longer
ago .than 1742, for fear of being overwhelmed by the
anathemas of an ignorant clergy.
" But why speak of what Romish priests have been 1
let us rather talk of what they now are. They yet
make religion and morals forbidden subjects of investigation
by the laity, even in this country."
" Mr. Oarleton, I must say that I am little in dulous
as to the representations Protestants give of the
proscriptive spirit and intolerance of the priesthood."
" Well now, sir, I happen to have in my hand a
genuine Catholic book; and here I find in it an ac-
Count of the fourth general council of Lateran, assembled
in Rome, A. D. 1215. I will read a brief
extract from a document passed by that council;
, We excommunicate and anathematize every heresy
extolling itself against the holy orthodox, Catholic
faith, which we before expounded, condemning all
heretics, by whatsoever name called, having indeed
different faces, but having their tails bound together
by a common agreement in falsehood, one with
another. And being condemned, let them be left to
the secular powers present or their bailiffs, to be punished
with due animadversion; if clergymen let them
first be degraded from their orders, so that the goods
of persons thus condemned, if of the laity, may be
confiscated; if of the clergy, they may be devoted to