The remainder of this oath is similar to the foregoing Jesuistical oath.
The priests of Maynooth, who form the vast majority of Catholic priests in this country, assume the following obligation to the church:
"I, A. B., do declare not to act or conduct any mat-
"ter or thing prejudicial to her, in her sacred orders,
"doctrines, tenets, or commands, without leave of its
"supreme power, or its authority under her appoint-
"ment; being so permitted, then to act, and further
"her interests, more than my own earthly good and
"earthly pleasures; as she and her head, His Holiness
"and his successors, have, or ought to have, the supremacy
"over all kings, princes, estates, or powers
"whatsoever, either to deprive them of their crowns,
"or governments, or to set up others in lieu thereof,
"they dissenting from the mother church and her com-
"mands."
It is said that by rescript of Pope Pius VII., in 1818, the clause relating to "heretics" in the bishop's oath, is omitted by the bishops subject to the British crown. It is also omitted in the following oath, published by the Nashville American Union, April 6, 1856:
"I, N.. elect of the church N., shall be from this
"hour henceforward obedient to Blessed Peter the
"Apostle, and to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and
"to the most blessed father Pope N., and to his succes-
"sors canonically chosen. I shall assist them to retain
"and defend, against any man whatever, the Roman
"Popedom, without prejudice to my rank; and shall
"take care to preserve, defend and promote the rights,
"honors, privileges, and authority of the holy Roman
"Church, of the Pope, and his successors aforesaid.
"With my whole strength I shall observe, and cause to
"be observed by others, the rules of the Holy Fathers,
"the decrees, ordinances, or dispositions and mandates
"of the Apostolic See."
The next clause declares the willingness of the bishop to attend synods, give an account to the pope of every thing appertaining to the church and his flock, and obey such apostolic mandate as he shall receive. The oath concludes thus:
"I shall not sell, nor give away, nor mortgage,
"enfeoff anew, nor in any way alienate the possessions
"belonging to my table, without the leave of the Ro-
"man Pontiff. And should I proceed to any alienation
"of them, I am willing to contract, by the very fact,
"the penalties specified in the constitutions published
"on this subject.'
The Sanfideste's oath, exacted by Pope Gregory of his military forces, was as follows:
"I swear to elevate the altar and the throne upon the
"infamous Liberals, and to exterminate them without
"pity for the cries of their children, or the tears of
"their old men."
William Hogan, speaking of the instructions given him previous to his embarkation for America, by his bishop, describes it as follows: