The New York Herald

New and Singular Movement in the Catholic Church—Influence of Republicanism on Ecclesiastical Systems.

We perceive by the western newspapers that a movement has recently originated in Cincinnati, amongst the Catholics there, which is singularly significant of the influence exercised by the republican institutions of this country upon the religious systems transplanted from Europe to the virgin soil of this new world. This movement, indeed, is one of the most interesting signs of the times, and opens up a new and exceedingly interesting field of investigation to the attentive and philosophic student, of the progress of the human mind to an era of more enlarged liberty and power.

It seems that a church has been organized in the rising and flourishing city of the west, in direct and avowed opposition to the domination of the Pope of Rome, and the hierarchy of the ancient Catholic church. A number of the most intelligent and influential adherents to the Catholic faith in that region, have associated themselves together, for the purpose of worshipping the God of their fathers according to the prescribed form and ceremonial of the ancient creed, but in perfect independence of the papal see, and of all the dignitaries generally recognized in the United States, by the professors of that faith in the United States. All allegiance to the respectable successor of Peter, located in the "eternal city," is thrown off by these reformers, and the paternal authority of the bishops and priesthood is most independently set aside. But the distinctive tenets of the Catholic church are to be rigidly maintained—the rites, ceremonies and sacraments of the venerable ecclesiastical mother are to be retained; and in all respects, except papal allegiance, the new church is to be a dutiful and well-behaved child of the holy Catholic family. A priest, duly accredited, and regularly authorized to minister at the altar, is to preside over the congregated faithful in the beautiful city of the west, and the solemn and imposing ceremonial of the church is to be adhered to in every particular. But the Pope, and the Bishop, and the hierarchy are to be most undutifully and unceremoniously set aside. In fact, an independent Catholic church is to be organized, and each man walk to paradise in his own way, with only the Bible, and the burning and shining lights of the past to guide him on his journey.

We are not sure but a movement of this kind will spread very rapidly in this country amongst the Catholics. Hitherto the Catholic church in this country has adhered to its allegiance to Rome, chiefly because the supplies of clergy and not unfrequently of money—the sinews of religious as well as of physical warfare—come from abroad. But as soon as the Catholics in this country are wealthy enough to found colleges—and manufacture priests—and build churches—and support their own seminaries of learning—and raise up their own ministers to serve at the altar, they will universally absolve themselves from their allegiance to Rome, and organize their whole ecclesiastical system on perfectly independent principles.

The natural and inevitable tendency of the republican institutions of this country, is to create in all departments of human life a spirit of freedom and independence. We see this every day in our scientific institutions—in our literary associations—in all our unions of men for any purpose—and last, not least, in our religious organizations. Thus for instance, we see the Episcopal church in the United States—instead of being the insolent, overbearing, oppressive, ecclesiastical system that it is in Great Britain—a modest, humble, harmless affair, confining itself to its proper limits, and seeking to propagate its views and doctrines by the only weapons authorized by the founder of Christianity, argument, good works, and prayer. The priesthood are not regarded in this country as commissioned by divine authority to rule over the consciences and actions of men. They are estimated at their proper value, in proportion to their usefulness and fidelity. Thus it has been with the clergy of all the Protestant churches; and now, at last, the spirit of independence and freedom—of rebellion, if you please—against anything like spiritual despotism, begins to manifest itself in the ancient Catholic church.

Thus it would appear that the singular movement recently commenced in Germany, under the leadership of Ronge, has been communicated to the United States. We doubt not that once begun it will go on. It is one of those impulses of human nature that must proceed to a successful issue. It is one of those periodical uprisings of humanity against despotic authority—one day hurling a tyrannical king—another day deposing a spiritual despot—from his throne of oppression. So we have every reason to believe that the time is fast approaching when we will have an American Pope. Why not? And an American Catholic Council. American Catholic Cardinals, and American Catholic every thing, on our own hook. And again, we ask, why not?