35 . Liberty of Conscience Threatened
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years . In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy , and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence , there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy ; the opinion is gaining ground that , after all , we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed , and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome . The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased . They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God . But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed !
The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned , and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement . Many urge that it is unjust to judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness . They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times and plead that the influence of modern civilization has changed her sentiments . Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth for eight hundred years by this haughty power ? So far from being relinquished , this claim was affirmed in the nineteenth century with greater positiveness than ever before . As Rome asserts that the " church never erred ; nor will it , according to the Scriptures , ever err " ( John L . von Mosheim , Institutes of Ecclesiastical History , book 3 , century II , part 2 , chapter 2 , section 9 , note 17 ), how can she renounce the principles which governed her course in past ages ?
The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility . All that she has done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas she holds to be right ; and would she not repeat the same acts , should the opportunity be presented ? Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed and Rome be reinstated in her former power , and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution . A well-known writer speaks thus of the attitude of the papal hierarchy as regards freedom of conscience , and of the perils which especially threaten the United States from the success of her policy :
" There are many who are disposed to attribute any fear of Roman Catholicism in the United States to bigotry or childishness . Such see nothing in the character and attitude of Romanism that is hostile to our free institutions , or find nothing portentous in its growth . Let us , then , first compare some of the fundamental principles of our government with those of
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