1821 Feb y 21

Rid Yourselves

Interests concerned

11. Clergy

II The Clergy. In considering on the one hand the demand for

retrenchment, on the other hand the room for it as applied to this case, no

assumption and or ought to be here [...?] upon, inconsistent with that, according to

which, whatsoever may become of the worldly interests of this short and transitory

life, the Catholic Religion ought above all things to be preserved: preserved, in

whatsoever degree of party and benefaction it possesses, or is susceptible of.

But, that to the maintenance of this religion in any /assignable/

degree of perfection, not a maraveda is necessary to be provided by fixed

contributions, or by fixt masses of property kept on foot for the purpose, is matter

of expression. It is so in all countries in which the Catholic Religion, which it has

not only its professors but its functionaries, is not the established religion of the

State It is so accordingly in England, in Scotland in Ireland, in Denmark, in Sweden,

in various parts of Germany to a great extent, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and in the

Prussian Empire: not to speak of the Anglo-American United States.

In Spain, as in other countries in which the Catholic Religion stands

established, the whole body of the Clergy taken in the aggregate stands

distinguishable into two very marked divisions: the class called that of the regular

Clergy, and the class called that the secular Clergy. That

of the regular Clergy has thus for its distinctive character: namely, that by none of

these services rendered in any shape to any living individual /assemblage of

individuals/ in particular. Accordingly, these have not, properly speaking, a place

upon the list of functionaries.

To this part of the list belongs - not only each of the Clergy as

belongs to this or that Monastic Order, but the possessors of all benefices which as

were of sorts is attached.