Popery: The Accommodation of Christianity to the Natural Heart

In this work Hoare argues that many Catholic practices such as the veneration of saints the use of rituals and the authority of the Pope cater to human inclinations toward outward displays of piety and hierarchical structures. He contends that these elements make Catholicism more accessible and attractive to the natural heart but ultimately stray from the simplicity and spiritual essence of true Christian faith. His critique is rooted in the Protestant Reformation’s emphasis on sola scriptura (scripture alone) and salvation by faith. Hoare’s book reflects the theological tensions of the 19th century particularly in the context of the Oxford Movement which sought to reintroduce Catholic elements into Anglican worship. Popery is both a defense of evangelical Anglicanism and a polemic against what Hoare saw as the creeping influence of Catholic doctrine within the Church of England. The book is a historical artifact of its time offering insight into the religious debates and divisions that shaped 19th-century Christianity.