the american republic-第70章
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The sects themselves have a half unavowed 425 conviction that they cannot subsist forever as sects； if unsupported by the civil authority。 They are free； but do not feel safe in the United States。 They know the real church is catholic； and that they themselves are none of them catholic。 The most daring among them even pretends to be no more than a 〃branch〃 of the catholic church。 They know that only the catholic church can withstand the pressure of events and survive the shocks of time； and hence everywhere their movements to get rid of their sectarianism and to gain a catholic character。 They hold conventions of delegates from the whole sectarian world； form 〃unions；〃 〃alliances；〃 and 〃associations；〃 but； unhappily for their success； the catholic church does not originate in convention； but is founded by the Word made flesh； and sustained by the indwelling Holy Ghost。 The most they can do； even with the best dispositions in the world； is to create a confederation； and confederated sects are something very different from a church inherently one and catholic。 It is no more the catholic church than the late Southern Confederacy was the American state。 The sectarian combinations may do some harm； may injure many souls； and retard； for a time； the progress of civilization； but in a state organized in ac… 426 cordance with catholic principles； and left to themselves； they are powerless against the national destiny； and must soon wither and die as branches severed from the vine。
Such being the case； no sensible Catholic can imagine that the church needs any physical force against the sects； except to repel actual violence； and protect her in that freedom of speech and possession which is the right of all before the state。 What are called religious establishments are needed only where either the state is barbarous or the religion is sectarian。 Where the state； in its intrinsic constitution； is in accordance with catholic principles； as in the United States； the church has all she needs or can receive。 The state can add nothing more to her power or her security in her moral and spiritual warfare with sectarianism； and any attempt to give her more would only weaken her as against the sects； place her in a false light； partially justify their hostility to her； render effective their declamations against her； mix her up unnecessarily with political changes； interests； and passions； and distract the attention of her ministers from their proper work as churchmen； and impose on them the duties of politicians and statesmen。 Where there is nothing in the state hostile to the church； 427 where she is free to act according to her own constitution and laws； and exercise her own discipline on her own spiritual subjects； civil enactments in her favor or against the sects may embarrass or impede her operations； but cannot aid her； for she can advance no farther than she wins the heart and convinces the understanding。 A spiritual work can； in the nature of things； be effected only by spiritual means。 The church wants freedom in relation to the statenothing more； for all her power comes immediately from God； without any intervention or mediation of the state。
The United States； constituted in accordance with the real order of things； and founded on principles which have their origin and ground in the principles on which the church herself is founded； can never establish any one of the sects as the religion of the state； for that would violate their political constitution； and array all the other sects； as well as the church herself； against the government。 They cannot be called upon to establish the church by law； because she is already in their constitution as far as the state has in itself any relation with religion； and because to establish her in any other sense would be to make her one of the civil institutions of the； 428 land； and to bring her under the control of the state； which were equally against her interest and her nature。
The religious mission of the United States is not then to establish the church by external law； or to protect her by legal disabilities； pains； and penalties against the sects； however uncatholic they may be； but to maintain catholic freedom； neither absorbing the state in the church nor the church in the state； but leaving each to move freely； according to its own nature； in the sphere assigned it in the eternal order of things。 Their mission separates church and state as external governing bodies； but unites them in the interior principles from which each derives its vitality and force。 Their union is in the intrinsic unity of principle； and in the fact that； though moving in different spheres； each obeys one and the same Divine law。 With this the Catholic； who knows what Catholicity means； is of course satisfied； for it gives the church all the advantage over the sects of the real over the unreal； and with this the sects have no right to be dissatisfied； for it subjects them to no disadvantage not inherent in sectarianism itself in presence of Catholicity； and without any support from the civil authority。
The effect of this mission of our country fully 429 realized； would be to harmonize church and state； religion and politics； not by absorbing either in the other； or by obliterating the natural distinction between them； but by conforming both to the real or Divine order； which is supreme and immutable。 It places the two powers in their normal relation； which has hitherto never been done； because hitherto there never has been a state normally constituted。 The nearest approach made to the realization of the proper relations of church and state； prior to the birth of the American Republic； was in the Roman Empire under the Christian emperors； but the state had been perverted by paganism； and the emperors； inheriting the old pontifical power； could never be made to understand their own incompetency in spirituals； and persisted to the last in treating the church as a civil institution under their supervision and control； as does the Emperor of the French in France； even yet。 In the Middle Ages the state was so barbarously constituted that the church was obliged to supervise its administration； to mix herself up with the civil government； in order to infuse some intelligence into civil matters； and to preserve her own rightful freedom and independence。 When the states broke away from feudalism； they revived the Roman 430 constitution； and claimed the authority in ecclesiastical matters that had been exercised by the Roman Caesars； and the states that adopted a sectarian religion gave the sect adopted a civil establishment； and subjected it to the civil government； to which the sect not unwillingly consented； on condition that the civil authority excluded the church and all other sects； and made it the exclusive religion of the state； as in England； Scotland； Sweden； Denmark； Russia； and the states of Northern Germany。 Even yet the normal relations of church and state are nowhere practicable in the Old World； for everywhere either the state is more or less barbaric in its constitution； or the religion is sectarian； and the church as well as civilization is obliged； to struggle with antagonistic forces； for self…preservation。
There are formidable parties all over Europe at work to introduce what they take to be the American system； but constitutions are generated； not madeprovidential； not conventional。 Statesmen can only develop what is in the existing constitutions of their respective countries； and no European constitution contains all the elements of the American。 European Liberals mistake the American system； and； were they to succeed in their efforts； would not in… 431 troduce it； but something more hostile to it than the governments and institutions they are warring against。 They start from narrow； sectarian； or infidel premises； and seek not freed
