The Times, in a message from its correspondent in Rome on 24th June, reported that Sir Walter Roberts, the new British minister to the Holy See, the previous day presented his letters of credence to the Pope. He was convinced, he added, that the British Government and people were imbued with ideals, and were pursuing aims, similar to those proclaimed by the Holy See. The newspaper correspondent says that the Pope, replying in English, expressed gratification at this assurance. Freedom and peace, he said, were spiritual values, and could not be had without “faith in a personal God” and acknowledgment of the Christian moral law.
The Pope might well express “gratification” at such an assurance. If it is true that the British Government and people are imbued with ideals, and are pursuing aims, similar to those proclaimed by the Holy See, then our Protestantism is an empty sham, the Reformation a mistake, and the Bible no longer the only rule of faith and practice for our national Church. I will go further: the judgment of God upon our nation cannot be long delayed. History has shown again and again that flirting with Popery brings disaster sooner or later. The idea that Roman Catholicism can be trusted as a bulwark against the “specious claims of dialectical materialism” is a fallacy that it does not require much vision to expose. Europe is a hot-bed of such materialism precisely because millions have experienced the utter emptiness of the Roman system, with its oppression, lies, and priestcraft. These are strong words, but not, I venture to suggest, too strong for these milk and water days.
“Flirting with Popery brings disaster.” I ought perhaps to substantiate that statement. It is a remarkable fact that, as a broad rule, Papal blessings entail disaster, whilst Papal curses bring blessings. For instance, Pope Pius IX sent the Golden Rose to the King of the Two Sicilies, and in less than a year the latter had lost his crown and kingdom. When the Pope acted similarly in the case of Queen Isabella of Spain, she lost her crown not long after and died in exile. The Golden Rose was also sent to the Empress Eugenie of France: in less than a year the Emperor and
*An article which appeared in The English Churchman on 13th July, 1951.—Editor.
Empress lost their crowns and both died later in exile; their only son was killed by Zulus in Africa. Princess Ema of Battenberg forsook her Protestant faith and became a Roman Catholic in order to marry the King of Spain. Within a fortnight, she narrowly escaped death at the hands of an anarchist, 13 others being killed and 80 wounded. In May, 1931, she, with her husband (King Alfonso) lost the throne and fled the country.
Coming nearer our day, we recall that the Pope blessed the Italians as “a great and good people” after Mussolini had butchered the Abyssinians and sacked their land. The Italian Empire was not of long duration, however, as we all recall. On the other hand, Papal curses have often meant blessing. Garibaldi, the Italian patriot, was excommunicated by the Pope, but he helped King Emmanuel to defeat the Pope and make a free and united Italy. The Papal curses on King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth were followed by spiritual blessings such as no other country has enjoyed, whilst the Papal blessings upon Southern Ireland have produced an opposite effect.
King Edward VII, we remember, restarted the custom of calling on the Pope. He was given a signed photograph of Leo XIII. There was immediate news of a reverse to British troops in Somaliland; the King’s health began to fail and was never restored. When the Pope blessed Lord Denbigh, special envoy of the British Sovereign, disaster befell the British Army in South Africa the same day. These may be all coincidences—I could give dozens of others—but they make us think. So does the loss of the Affray and 75 gallant men in mysterious circumstances only three days after Princess Elizabeth’s visit to the Vatican.—Locum.