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Catholic episcopal councils compared to popes |
Existing dogma compared to popes |
Objections and controversy
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Cisalpinism (derived from "this side of theAlps") was a movement amongEnglish Roman Catholics in the late eighteenth century intended to further the cause ofCatholic emancipation, i.e. relief from many of the restrictions still in effect that were placed on Roman Catholic British subjects. This view held that allegiance to the Crown was not incompatible with allegiance to the Pope.
With the deterioration of relations with the American colonies, the British government was faced with the necessity of increasing troop recruitments. WhileCatholic Relief Act of 1778 eased some provisions of the Penal Laws, its main purpose was to encourage the Catholic gentry to support enlistments. According to historianThomas Bartlett, "It firmly established the principle of Catholic relief as a key element of war-time strategy."[1] The passing of this act was the occasion of the anti-CatholicGordon Riots (1780).
Cisalpinism was more a political than theological position, directed toward helping the question of emancipation.[2] It sought accommodation of the English Roman Catholic Church within the Protestant State in the 18th century, when thePenal Laws persecuting the Catholic Church were still in place. Thirty Catholic laymen met in 1782 to elect a "Catholic Committee" of five, for a period of five years, "to promote and attend to the affairs of the Roman Catholic body in England".[3] According to the Secretary to the Committee,Charles Butler, "A variety of circumstances prevented them making any particular exertions in the cause entrusted to them."[3]
The Committee first action was to write to the four Apostolic Vicars that one of the causes raised against further repeal of the penal laws was the title "apostolic vicar" and the perception of too close a dependence on the "Court of Rome". The Committee proposed the restoration of the hierarchy with the apostolic vicars becoming Bishops in Ordinary, governing their own dioceses. From the perspective of the actual working of ecclesiastical affairs, each of the Apostolic Vicars had a different opinion; and the matter was dropped.[4]
The powers of the first committee having expired at the end of its term in 1787, a new committee was constituted made up of ten members. In February, the Committee sent a letter to thePrime Minister protesting various prohibitions for which they suffered severe penalties. Among those listed were:
and as loyal subjects, they petitioned for redress of their grievances.[5]
In May 1788, the following year, the following members were added:James Talbot, vicar apostolic of the London district (although he never attended a meeting);Charles Berington, co-adjutor of the Midland district; and Joseph Wilks, a Benedictine monk.
Although it looked like a way to safeguard the English Catholic population, BishopCharles Walmesley (1722–1797), theVicar Apostolic of the west of England, thought Cisalpinism would mean a newoath of allegiance that would "exclude the Pope's spiritual jurisdiction" and "diminish our dependence in spirituals on the Church in Rome, and by degrees to shake it off entirely; likewise to take off the abstinence of Saturday, to reduceLent to a fortnight beforeEaster, and to have the Liturgy in English".
The publication of the "Staffordshire Creed" by someStaffordshire clergy to Bishop Walmesley complained about the excommunication of theBenedictine Joseph Wilks. The creed also contained the Rights of the Priesthood against the Episcopacy, and this at a time when many Catholiclaity were still being accused of treason.
In 1797 Bishop Walmesley publicly excommunicated the signatories of the "Staffordshire Creed". One of the defenders of the Cisalpine tradition who even objected to theAsperges (sprinkling ofHoly Water) before Mass wasJohn Lingard, author of the hymnHail Queen of Heaven the Ocean Star and first Rector ofUshaw Collegeseminary. Father Daniel Rock, chaplain toLord Shrewsbury of Alton Towers from 1827 to 1841, continued for a short time elements of the Cisalpine tradition. It was the chance meeting atAlton Towers of Lord Shrewsbury with Father F. W. Faber that promotedUltramontanism.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.