The Pope Did It?

[maharba]

I have been looking at the Archbishop John J. Hughes (1797-1863)
of New York, and the odd interplay between Lincoln, NY politicians and the Archbishop Hughes. Lincoln appeared to know that he needed as much as possible to keep the Catholic leader on his side. And didn't the Archbishop go on a mission of some sort, which Lincoln supposedly asked him to go, to the Vatican? Lincoln appeared to cross historical barriers with the press and the church which the Constitution may not disallow outright, but which were highly unusual.