ENDOWMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Camberwell, 9th February 1847. Sra—Having the opinion that religious State establishments are detrimental to the propagation of truth and vital Christianity, I am filled with regret at per- ceiving your able pen employed in paving the way for establishing a State Church in Ireland.
It is quite true that the question of the Irish Church will have to be entertained and determined by our statesmen before any long time shall elapse: but I would hope not in the way that you point out; not because that I have any repugnance to the Roman Catholics merely as Roman Catholics, but on account of a sincere belief that all State church establishments, of whatever religion, are bad in principle. I cannot agree with you in thinking, that " no argunient is more unreasonably and disingenuously used than that which rests upon.the Voluntary principle." I am quite sure that all consistent and honest advocates of this prinoiple are fully prepared " to go mach further than the mere abolition of State payments ": they will go all the way that you indicate, even to the extent that in religious matters the government of a state comprising all varieties of denominations and sects, have no right to make any distinction " between Protestants and Roman Catho- lics, or any other family of Christians, between Christianity and Mahometanism or any other faith, between religion and no religion." "Religion as a worship" being, as you truly remark, "purely spontaneous," which "no power on earth can make otherwise," and as according to the different systems of religion there will be different forms of worship, I would ask how there can be in a community containing many varieties a State establishment of any one system without perpetrating great injustice towards all the others? Permit me also to remark, that I am unable to understand how a "perfectly just use of the Voluntary argument would enforce a State endowment of the Ro- man Catholic clergy." I object entirely to State payments for any religious pur- poses, and, with many others, am doing my best for their abolition. I admit that this end is not near at hand. But surely you do.not argue, that because I can- not from the force of circumstances prevent at present Church payments for Protestant purposes," I am inconsistent in opposing State payments for Catholic or any other religions purposes. Not to oppose them, would be to retard the ac- complishment of the object that I am striving after. With what consistency could I demand the separation of Church and State in England after having been a consenting party to the establishment of a Church and State in Ireland?
As an honest and earnest advocate of the Voluntary principle I have been in- duced to address these few lines to you; having always regarded you on such matters an authority, I could scarcely do any other. If Ihave misunderstood you I shall feel happy in being set right. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, AN OLD Suscrawsa.
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