CATHOLIC VIEW OF THE POPE'S POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 340, 10 February 1871, Page 2

CATHOLIC VIEW OF THE POPE'S POSITION.

According to Archbishop Spalding, who is the leading prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in America, Pope Piua IX. is in a much worse position than most men had supposed—or in other words, that tbe absorption of Rome by Italy is a far more important step than tho public generally had imagined. He maintains that the Holy Father "is a p isoner to all intents and purposes ;" that " the invasion of the Papal territory by King "Victor Emanuel transcends in guilt any outrage of the century;" that the plebiscite submitted to the- people was a sham and a farce ; and that " the Oecumenical Council would have lasted a year or so longer if it had not been for this treacherous invasion." There were, ho adds, forty important questions left untouched wh . the Council broke up. Why did it break up f beu ? Because, says this distinguished prelate, " the bishops had to fly for their lives," and •"' murder at this moment stalks unchallenged through the streets of Rome." These are serious assertions to come from such a source.