The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-06 00:00:00

THE PAPACY AND IRELAND.

FOR some time past the proceedings of the
Roman Catholic Church in this country
have ceased to attract much attention.
The Czar, and not the Pope, the Krem-
lin, not the Vatican, have monopolised
our discussion. Nevertheless, it would be a
great error to suppose that the Roman
Catholic Church has been idle, though we
have heard of no noisy demonstrations from
her agitators. The long sojourn of Mr. FRE-
DERICK LUCAS at Rome, the confessions of Mr.
GAVAN DUFFY in his farewell to public life, and
the publicity given to the vigorous measures
by which Roman Catholic Bishops silenced
some priestly agitators, along with many other
circumstances within our knowledge, have
convinced us that the Court of Rome is now
intent on the inauguration of a new policy.
We had no necessity for perusing the long
statement of the Paris correspondent of the
Times to awaken our attention to a fact which
will demand vigilant examination.
We believe that the rulers of the Irish
Roman Catholic Church find that they have
got all from " agitation " that could be gained.
It enabled Rome to fight in Ireland with
bands of ecclesiastical tribunes, who turned
the altar into a platform, and rioted and ranted
at elections with unpunished audacity. Ap-
parent influence for a time followed on such
courses, but turbulence became monotonous.
The priesthood forfeited its respectability and
cast into bright relief the superior moral qua-
lities of the clergy of the Established Church.
Hence, it has been thought wise by the rulers
of the Roman Catholic Church to attempt an
internal reform, and to assimilate the habits
and manners of the Irish priests to the conti-
nental pattern. That they are resolved on
doing so is certain ; but the Times corre-
spondent does not seem to be aware that some
of the new Romish policy has already been
put in force in Ireland. A more staid
demeanour has been imposed on the priests
in some dioceses. They have been taught by
word and example of their superiors to assume
a more strictly professional tone, and to avoid
as much as possible all vulgarising associa-
tions. Thus, for example, the practice of
" night weddings " has been abolished in
several parishes. The priests of the old school
were fond of marrying their parishioners at
night. Beef, cabbage, and punch were
swallowed with greater avidity at the evening
hours. There was more jollity ; and in pro-
portion as the Paddies were softened by the
whisky, in the same degree were their sub-
scriptions strengthened when the priest went
round the room to collect his dues. Scenes of
a most indecorous character often resulted
from such habits. O'KEEFFE'S famous charac-
ter of Father Luke in the Poor Soldier was no

948

caricature of the Irish priest of the modern
school. But it is now proposed to raise a
school of practical Jesuits—sly, subtle, and
wary. not prone to electioneering or strong
potations ; less " Irish," and more Romanist ;
intent on divinity, and indifferent about
" nationality ;" not openly factious, though
covertly formidable to England ; ready for the
crafty work of propagandism with the silken
smoothness of their specious logic and in•
sinuating manners.

The question, however, is a practical one—
" Whether a refined Romanist clergy, disci-
" plined by the Jesuits, and made suitable for
" Dr. CULLEN'S convenience, will work in
" Ireland ? Will Rome gain or lose in Ireland
" by such a policy?"
We do not think that it is at all so clear
that the new kind of clergy would be " popu-
lar " amongst their flocks, who have been ac-
customed to a rattling, jocose, and familiar
priesthood, whose Hibernian temperament
was not depressed by the artificial rules of the
continental clergy. The coarse manners and
gross tone of the Irish priests kept them on a
social level with their parishioners, and vastly
increased their personal powers. Each man
amongst them was hand and glove with his
flock, eating, drinking, and making freo with
them on all possible occasions. Generally of
humble birth, his arrogant pretensions and
his fierce tone of aggressiveness, and his
vulgar self-sufficiency, were reserved for the
Protestants (with whom ho could not consort),
or for the " respectable Catholics," who tole-
rated, or superciliously patronised, his pre•
Renee. We are not sure whether even the
faults of the priest of the old school did not
render him more socially powerful amongst a
community where the gentry of his persuasion
were few in numbers, and where the middle
class was not intelligent or large. The
Roman Catholic Church has of late years made
several false moves, which have practically
demonstrated the absurdity of its claims to
infallibility. We would not be surprised if
this project of rearing a Wisemanian clergy in
Ireland should turn out to be one of the
greatest fallacies of Propaganda.
We shall be glad if such should prove to be
the case. By a providential dispensation of
events, social causes have of late years mate-
rially invigorated the power and extended the
action of Protestantism in Ireland. The
mind of the country has been opened, and
delusions on many subjects have been dis-
pelled. The age of demagogism has passed
away, and a course of social prosperity and
practical mode of thinking has commenced.
The hearty applause given to the recent manly
speech of Lord STANLEY in Tipperary con-
clusively demonstrates how changed is the
tone of society in Ireland It is not at such a
time, we think, that the Vatican will find it
useful to put all people more on their guard
than ever against the wiles of intriguing
Jesuits, or the schemes of ambitious " Legates
or " Cardinals."

In another point of view, however, it is
worth remarking that Dr. CULLEN has, by his
intended policy, given a strong testimony
against the Maynoothian clergy. If May-
nooth has worked well, why the necessity for '
all these changes? Why this late interference
against an electioneering clergy ? Why all
this newborn horror of politics ? Two millions
of Roman Catholics have been struck off by
famine, the exodus to America, and the emigra-
tion to the colonies. America has raised its voice
against the arrogant claims of Rome ; and at
such a moment Dr. CULLEN finds it wise to
change tactics altogether, and strive to sup-
port his Church by a priesthood trained on
different models from that followed' at May-
nooth. We shall not be surprised if his pro-
ceedings result in a serious schism amongst
the Irish Romanist priests, with all the
boasted " unity " of' their Church. There are
symptoms amongst them of heartburnings and
bitter jealousies, and some of the shrewdest
feel that their Church is in serious danger of
sure, though gradual, extinction in this realm.
We doubt whether such men, recollecting the
influence which they have wielded in bygone
times, will be likely to submit to the new
scheme which has so long occupied the atter..
tion of some influential chiefs amongst the
Roman Catholic clergy.

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