The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""270 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.choice, but she has also defended their civil rightaand liberties against the encroachments of temporalsovereigns. One of the popular errors that havetaken possession of some minds in our times, is thatin former days the Church was leagued with princes,for the oppression of the people. This is a basecalumny, which a slight acquaintance with eccbsiasticalhistory would soon dispel.The truth is, the most unrelenting enemies of theChurch have been the princes of this world, and socalledChristian princes, too.The conflict between Church and State has neverdied out, because the Church has felt it to be herduty, in every age, to raise her voice against thedespotic and arbitrary measures of princes. Andas a Protestant American reviewer 1 well said,about forty years ago, it was a blessing of Providence that there was a spiritual Power on earththat could stand like a wall of brass against thetyranny of earthly sovereigns, and say to them :Thus far you shall go, and no farther, and hereyou shall break your swelling waves of passion ;a Power that could say to them what John saidto Herod: "Thisthing is not lawful for thee;" aPower that pointed the finger of reproof to them,even when the sword was pointed to her own ne<k,and that said to them what Nathan said to David :"Thou art the man." She told princes that ifthe people have their obligations, they have theiz1 Dr. Brownson, who was then a Protestant.