Clergy Dissent in the Old South 1830-1865

[Eva Elisabeth]

(03-06-2015 09:57 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  As a Catholic, I am interested in the stance taken by the Vatican on American slavery and the American Civil War. The impression that I have gotten is that Pope Pius IX at least was sympathetic to the Confederate Cause.. he is alleged to have sent Jefferson Davis a crown of thorns while Davis was in prison.( This "crown" can be seen at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond.)

Toia, I once posted the following on another thread ( http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...0885.html? ):

The closest Confederate government probably came to recognition was in 1863, when the Confederacy appointed Ambrose Dudley Mann as special agent to the Holy See on September 24. After a meeting, Mann received by His Holiness Pope Pius IX a letter addressed to the “Illustrious and Hon. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, Richmond,” that concluded with a hope for a union in “perfect friendship".Mann, in his dispatch to Richmond, interpreted the letter as "a positive recognition of our Government." The pope's letter to Jefferson Davis was accompanied by an autographed picture of the pope.

Davis interpreted this communication as a form of recognition and hoped that this letter would be the first step towards widespread European recognition. The letter was reported in Southern newspapers with the implication that Pope Pius IX supported the Confederacy. You can read the entire letter of Jefferson Davis to the Pope and the Pope's reply to Davis here: http://the-american-catholic.com/2010/08...-pio-nono/

Judah P. Benjamin, however, in a letter of Jan. 29, 1864, interpreted this as "a mere inferential recognition, unconnected with political action or the regular establishment of diplomatic relations" and thus not as formal recognition.

General Robert E. Lee kept a portrait of the Pope in his house, and referred to him as "the South's only true friend during her time of need".

Toia, as for the stance taken by the Vatican, especially Pius, on American slavery and the American Civil War - you might find the following site interesting, especially (scroll down) the passage entitled "Pius IX and the Confederacy":
http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives...n_rome.htm