Thought for the Day 20 January 2010

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Categorised as Thought of the Day and published Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
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Thought for the Day 19 January 2010
Thought for the Day 21 January 2010 Right Arrow

Catholicism does not depend on its establishment for its existence, nor does its tradition live upon its establishment; it can do without establishment, and often dispenses with it to an advantage. A Catholic nation, as a matter of course, establishes Catholicism because it is a Catholic nation … the establishment is the spontaneous act of the people; it is a national movement, the Catholic people does it, and not the Catholic Church. It is but the accident of a particular state of things, the result of the fervour of the people; it is the will of the masses; but, I repeat, it is not necessary for Catholicism.

From Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England (1851) Click here for the full text (leaves site)