7) although unity of faith is the most secure foundation of political unity, Catholics do not see the schism in belief as an insuperable obstacle to German unity, just as long as the principles of justice and genuine toleration have their proper effect in all states and in the fatherland as a whole;
8) the Catholics assembled in Aachen, the old German imperial city on the borders of the fatherland, declare that every attempt at dismembering Germany, whether it is to the advantage of a German or of a foreign prince, is a sacrilege. They protest against the exclusion of the Catholic imperial house from Germany and abhor any indulgence of foreign ambition;
9) the Catholic General Assembly, in light of the continuing distress of the Holy Father Pius IX and the need to maintain his dignity, freedom, and independence, which increases daily, declares the payment of the Peterspfennig [Peter's pence] to be an exquisitely good work under the current circumstances, in which a Catholic not only practices the duty of Christian charity but also reveals his zeal for holy belief and his love of church and of freedom; it therefore calls upon all members of Catholic associations not only to continue payment of the Peter's pence themselves, but also to work for this among others as much as possible.
Source: H. Schultheß, Europäischer Geschichtskalender [Almanac of European History], vol. 3, 1862, p. 89 ff.
Original German text reprinted in Ernst Rudolf Huber, ed., Deutsche Verfassungsdokumente 1851-1900 [German Constitutional Documents 1851-1900], vol. 2, Dokumente zur deutschen Verfassungsgeschichte [Documents on German Constitutional History], 3rd ed., rev. and enl. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer, 1986, pp. 132-33.
Translation: Jeremiah Riemer
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