At the very least the institution of a clergy in Catholicism is condemned, and they think that they are moderate if they respect the rest.
"WE MIGHT CHANGE THE RELIGION," say the deputies in the tribune.[2266] Now, the decree affects neither dogma nor worship; it is confined to a revision of matters of discipline, and on this particular domain which is claimed for the civil power, it is pretended that demolition and re-construction may be effected at discretion without the concurrence of the ecclesiastical power.
Here there is an abuse of power, for an ecclesiastical as well as civil society has the right to choose its own form, its own hierarchy, its own government .-- On this point, every argument that can be advanced in favor of the former can be repeated in favor of the latter, and the moment one becomes legitimate the other becomes legitimate also.

The justification for a civil or of a religious community or society may be the performance of a long series of services which, for centuries, it has rendered to its members, the zeal and success with which it discharges its functions, the feelings of gratitude they entertain for it, the importance they attribute to its offices, the need they have of it, and their attachment to it, the conviction imprinted in their minds that without it they would be deprived of a benefit upon which they set more store than upon any other.

This benefit, in a civil society, is the security of persons and property.

In the religious society it is the eternal salvation of the soul.

iii In all other particulars the resemblance is complete, and the titles of the Church are as good as those of the State.