The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"272 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.communication occasionall^uflicted by the Churchon evil-doers. Here is an instance of this penalty.Who can complain of it as being too severe ? Itwas a salutary punishment, and the only one thatcould bring rulers to a sense of duty.The greatest bulwark of civil liberty is the famousMa$na Charta. It is the foundation not only ofBritish, but also of American constitutional freedom. Among other blessings contained in this instrument, it establishes trial by jury, and the rightof Habeas Corpus, and provides that there shall beno taxation without representation.Who were the framers of this memorable charter?Archbishop Langton, of Canterbury, and the Catholic Barons of England. On the plains of Runnymede,in 1215, they compelled King John to signthat paper which was the death-blow to his arbitrary power, and the corner-stone of constitutionalgovernment.Turning to our own country,it is with no smalldegree of satisfaction that I point to the Statb ofMaryland as the cradle of civil and religious liberty,and the land of the sanctuary."Of the thirteenoriginal American Colonies, Maryland was the onlyone that was settled by Catholics. She was also theonly one that spread aloft over her fair lands thebanner of liberty of conscience, and that invited theoppressed of other Colonies to seek an asylum beneath its shadow.Lest I should be suspected of being too partial in