John T. Troy, Pastoral Instruction to the Roman Catholics of the Archdiocess of Dublin (1798), Excerpt on Oaths

John T. Troy, Pastoral Instruction to the Roman Catholics of the Archdiocess of Dublin (1798), Excerpt on Oaths

 

Pastoral instruction written by Archbishop John T. Troy of Dublin in 1798.

Source: Dickinson, Harry T. Ireland in the Age of Revolution, 1760–1805, Part II, Volume 5. Routledge, 2016. p.116-117

 

In my former instructions I earnestly exhorted you against administering or taking unlawful or unnecessary oaths, and explained the conditions required, to render any oath binding and acceptable to Almighty God. Recollect, I entreat you, most beloved Brethren, recollect what you have read, or heard from your friendly Pastors. They have often told you that “an Oath is a solemn Appeal to the God of Truth, who cannot be deceived. Neither the kissing of a book, nor the expression, I swear, is necessary to constitute an oath. Whenever we call on God, on Heaven, on His presence, or on any thing sacred to witness or attest the truth of our resolutions or declarations, we take on oath.

We should never, if possible, make the awful appeal. Let your speech, says our blessed Redeemer, be Yea Yea, and No No; for whatever is more than these cometh from evil. All rash, profane, unnecessary oaths, are forbidden by this command; but it does not forbid to swear in truth, in justice, and in judgment, to the honor of God, in our own or our neighbour’s just defence. To affirm a known falsehood upon oath, is abominable perjury against Truth. To swear without perfect knowledge of the subject matter, or to any thing equivocal, doubtful, obscure, or mysterious; to promise secrecy on oath, without knowing what is to be kept secret, to swear to any purpose without due consideration is rash and against judgment. To promise on oath any thing which tends to encourage the invasion of a foreign power; to promote, favor, or excite rebellion, sedition, insurrection, / disturbance of the public peace; injury to any community, family or individual, in person, property, or reputation, is contrary to Justice.

Compulsory oaths, even when neither truth nor justice is violated, are sinful; because taken without free deliberation or judgment: The Rulers of every State are competent to propose Oaths of Allegiance to their respective Subjects, and other oaths to individuals employed by them in the different offices; in order to ascertain the purity of their civil principles, and oblige the several officers to a faithful discharge of their relative duties. Oaths of either kind are not compulsory.

To render then an oath lawful and acceptable to Almighty God, as an act of religion honouring the divine veracity, it must be taken in truth, in justice, and in judgment: When taken without all and every one of these conditions, it is sinful, and if taken without justice, it is null and void; highly sinful when taken, but doubly criminal when complied with in fact. The certainty, much less the prospect of redressing grievances by unlawful oaths, can never justify or excuse them, or any unlawful act. The fairest and most desirable object or end is to be abandoned, rather than procure it by evil means: It is, therefore, sinful to perpetrate the smallest moral evil with the view of effecting the greatest good.”

Such, my dear Brethren, is the doctrine concerning oaths taught by the religion which you profess, and declared by God himself, who commands you not to take his name in vain; and denounces the most dreadful punishments, even in this life, on those who swear rashly.

A MAN THAT SWEARETH MUCH, SHALL BE FILLED WITH INIQUITY, / AND A SCOURGE SHALL NOT DEPART FROM HIS HOUSE: AND IF HE SWEAR IN VAIN, HE SHALL NOT BE JUSTIFIED; FOR HIS HOUSE SHALL BE FILLED WITH INIQUITY. (Ecclesiast. xxiii. 12. 14.) I WILL DESTROY MEN FROM THE FACE OF THE LAND, SAITH THE LORD, AND I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND UPON THEM THAT SWEAR BY THE LORD. (Soph. 13. 5.) BUT ABOVE ALL THINGS, MY BRETHREN, SWEAR NOT, NEITHER BY THE HEAVEN, NOR BY THE EARTH, NOR BY ANY OTHER OATH, BUT LET YOUR SPEECH BE YEA, YEA; THAT YOU FALL NOT UNDER JUDGMENT. (James, v. 12.)