the american republic-第68章
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The religious destiny of the United States is not to create a new religion nor to found a new church。 All real religion is catholic； and is neither new nor old； but is always and everywhere true。 Even our Lord came neither to found a new church nor to create a new religion； but to do the things which had been foretold； and to fulfil in time what had been determined in eternity。 God has himself founded the church on catholic principles； or principles al… 413 ways and everywhere real principles。 His church is necessarily catholic； because founded on catholic dogmas； and the dogmas are catholic； because they are universal and immutable principles； having their origin and ground in the Divine Being Himself； or in the creative act by which He produces and sustains all things。 Founded on universal and immutable principles； the church can never grow old or obsolete； but is the church for all times and Places； for all ranks and conditions of men。 Man cannot change either the church or the dogmas of faith； for they are founded in the highest reality； which is above him； over him； and independent of him。 Religion is above and independent of the state； and the state has nothing to do with the church or her dogmas； but to accept and conform to them as it does to any of the facts or principles of science； to a mathematical truth； or to a physical law。
But while the church； with her essential constitution； and her dogmas are founded in the Divine order； and are catholic and unalterable； the relations between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities may be changed or modified by the changes of time and place。 These relations have not been always the same； but have dif… 414 fered in different ages and countries。 During the first three centuries of our era the church had no legal status； and was either connived at or persecuted by the state。 Under the Christian emperors she was recognized by the civil law； her prelates had exclusive jurisdiction in mixed civil and ecclesiastical questions； and were made； in some sense； civil magistrates； and paid as such by the empire。 Under feudalism； the prelates received investiture as princes and barons； and formed alone； or in connection with the temporal lords； an estate in the kingdom。 The Pope became a temporal prince and suzerain； at one time； of a large part of Europe； and exercised the arbitratorship in all grave questions between Christian sovereigns themselves； and between them and their subjects。 Since the downfall of feudalism and the establishment of modern centralized monarchy； the church has been robbed of the greater part of her temporal possessions； and deprived； in most countries； of all civil functions； and treated by the state either as an enemy or as a slave。
In all the sectarian and schismatic states of the Old World； the national church is held in strict subjection to the civil authority； as in Great Britain and Russia； and is the slave of 415 the state； in the other states of Europe； as France； Austria； Spain； and Italy； she is treated with distrust by the civil government； and allowed hardly a shadow of freedom and independence。 In France； which has the proud title of eldest daughter of the church； Catholics； as such； are not freer than they are in Turkey。 All religious are said to be free； and all are free； except the religion of the majority of Frenchmen。 The emperor； because nominally a Catholic； takes it upon himself to concede the church just as much and just as little freedom in the empire as he judges expedient for his own secular interests。 In Italy； Spain； Portugal； Mexico； and the Central and South American states； the policy of the civil authorities is the same； or worse。 It may be safely asserted that； except in the United States； the church is either held by the civil power in subjection； or treated as an enemy。 The relation is not that of union and harmony； but that of antagonism； to the grave detriment of both religion and civilization。
It is impossible； even if it were desirable； to restore the mixture of civil and ecclesiastical governments which obtained in the Middle Ages； and a total separation of church and state； even as corporations； would； in the pres… 416 ent state of men's minds in Europe； be construed； if approved by the church； into a sanction by her of political atheism； or the right of the civil power to govern according to its own will and pleasure in utter disregard of the law of God； the moral order； or the immutable distinctions between right and wrong。 It could only favor the absolutism of the state； and put the temporal in the place of the spiritual。 Hence； the Holy Father includes the proposition of the entire separation of church and state in the Syllabus of Errors condemned in his Encyclical； dated at Rome； December 8； 1864。 Neither the state nor the people； elsewhere than in the United States； can understand practically such separation in any other sense than the complete emancipation of our entire secular life from the law of God； or the Divine order； which is the real order。 It is not the union of church and statethat is； the union； or identity rather； of religious and political principlesthat it is desirable to get rid of； but the disunion or antagonism of church and state。 But this is nowhere possible out of the United States； for nowhere else is the state organized on catholic principles； or capable of acting； when acting from its own constitution； in harmony with a really catholic church； or the religious order 417 really existing； in relation to which all things are created and governed。 Nowhere else is it practicable； at present； to maintain between the two powers their normal relations。
But what is not practicable in the Old World is perfectly practicable in the New。 The state here being organized in accordance with catholic principles； there can be no antagonism between it and the church。 Though operating in different spheres； both are； in their respective spheres； developing and applying to practical life the one and the same Divine Idea。 The church can trust the state； and the state can trust the church。 Both act from the same principle to one and the same end。 Each by its own constitution co…operates with； aids； and completes the other。 It is true the church is not formally established as the civil law of the land； nor is it necessary that she should be； because there is nothing in the state that conflicts with her freedom and independence； with her dogmas or her irreformable canons。 The need of establishing the church by law； and protecting her by legal pains and penalties； as is still done in most countries； can exist only in a barbarous or semi…barbarous state of society； where the state is not organized on catholic principles； or the civilization is based on false 418 principles； and in its development tends not to the real or Divine order of things。 When the state is constituted in harmony with that order； it is carried onward by the force of its own internal constitution in a catholic direction； and a church establishment； or what is called a state religion； would be an anomaly； or a superfluity。 The true religion is in the heart of the state； as its informing principle and real interior life。 The external establishment； by legal enactment of the church； would afford her no additional protection； add nothing to her power and efficacy； and effect nothing for faith or pietyneither of which can be forced； because both must； from their nature； be free…will offerings to God。
In the United States； false religions are legally as free as the true religion； but all false religions being one…sided； sophistical； and uncatholic； are opposed by the principles of the state； which tend； by their silent but effective workings； to eliminate them。 The American state recognizes only the catholic religion。 It eschews all sectarianism； and none of the sects have been able to get their peculiarities incorporated into its constitution or its
