Page:A Catechism on the Thirty nine Articles.pdf/108

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102
CATECHISM ON THE ARTICLES.

1. That the government of the kingdom "is not nor ought to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction."

2. That the sovereigns of England[1] "should rule all states and degrees committed to their charge by God,[2] whether they be ecclesiastical or temporal, and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers."

What is meant by saying that the kingdom [country] is not subject to any foreign jurisdiction?

That no ruler in any foreign country has any power or authority over the government of the kingdom [country] either in Church or State.

What is meant by the expression, "is not nor ought to be subject?"

That it is not so by right at present, and ought not to be made so at any future time.

What occasion was there for making this declaration?

Because the bishop of Rome claimed chief jurisdiction both ecclesiastical and civil.

On what grounds do the bishops of Rome claim chief ecclesiastical jurisdiction in this kingdom [country]?

They assert that St. Peter had chief ecclesiastical jurisdiction given him by Christ over the whole

  1. In the United States, the President of the United States and the Governor of each state
  2. Through the choice of the people, in the United States.