New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-04
THE CHURCH PROPERT, BILL.

We admit defeat on the Church PrOp-rts bill. and
that our numerous CORE pOndents win respect TO
it have blackguarded very thoroughly. If calling
names like Psplst Infdel " tool of the Jesu,ts,
&c &c are convincing arguments, then are beaten
also On the merits OF the question But, before We
part gentlemen opposite allow Us to give you part
ing sautation Let US once more remind you, then,
that
l. II is false-with some of you ignorantly, with 9TH
ers I'VE fear vfuly fsse-bat Mr. Tabers bill vests
the fee SIMPLE Of Catholic Churches in tue Bishops of
that Church. or that il affects such fee simple IN any
way You may assert the contrary till doc nsday and
raise camor which shall drown all opposing assev-ra
tions but Truth is Truth though ,s uphOlders be bur
one against million aud it is the simple. naked, lit
erOl truth that the passage of Mr. Tabers bill Solld
leave the property contributed bequeahed 60 the
Catholic Church for Religious exactly where it
novis.
2 Neither will the passage Of this bill arm Catholic
Priests and Bishops with any new power to constraln
the members of their ocks to vest in them the titles
10 their Churches and other Properly devoted 10 Rel
eious uses That will remain exactly as it has hitherto
been. Whatever power the BISHOPS may have in this
respect they will derive from their office aud tle tenets
Of their ChuIcb-not at all from the Law.
g Nor will the passage of Mr. Tabers bill increase in
,ny respect The power of Catholic Bishops over what
ever Property may be vested in them for Religious ends
ON The contrary, it will limit and restrict that power
Now if q Catholic contributes bequeaths thousand
dollars to the building of Churches &C. any Diocese
be is obliged by the of laws vest the title
thereto absolutely in the Bishop, who is legally but
morally at liberty 10 pervert the fund to personal AMI
secular ends We do not say that any Bishop ever did
or did not peryer IT, say that our laws enable him
10 do So and that this is wrong The passage of Mr.
Taber's bill will make each Bishop trustee in ag he
now is in fact of The Church Property vested in him by
virtue OF his Office and subject him to legal responsibility
for any abuse Of his trust
4 Practically the passage of Mr. Taber's bill would
have exactly this effect aud no more Each Catholic
Bishop on the day of bis induction into Office bequeaths
or deeds all the Church Property vested in him by virtue
OF his office To his successor in communion with the See
of Rome but this will might be recalled or annulled
and It's maker having ceased To be Catholic. might
convert the Church property vested in him to his own
private The danger of such perversion sill be
tIded aud the trouble and expense of each Bishop con-
veying his successor in Office will be obyia-ed b. the
change proposed by Nj Taber.
Yet the bill is beaten because-we shall not miuce the
maer-too many Prctestans not Yet convinced that
absolute Freedom anl Equality is the only soil wherein
true Religion can flourish They fancy that the State
can and should dscOunenance creeds and dis
cipne heerodoxy for the glory Of God and the good Of
souls IL is the old mistake aud will have the old
suit By-andby We shall consent to let Catholics man
age their own affairs in their way and try 20 correct
tier presumed errors quite otherwise than by legal yeN
atoms and embarrassmeuts.
Throughout ills controversy, Catholic no friend Of
Mr Taber's bill has written a line the subec or
address ed US in any respecting while
letters from other side considerably more abundant in
vehemence {. ar courtesy in insult than argument have
been plentifuly showered upon We have no reply
to make-let them psss We do not now learn FOR the
first time that it costs something uphold heartily ad
unfinchingy the legal right Of every human being TO
worship or worship God he shall ft being
ponsbe for the abuse Of this liberty God alone He who
does Lot that for the State to take property which
the maker had chosen give TO the Catholic Bishop of
New-YoIk OF Boston and give that property the
in or brother Of deceased Bishop contrary to the do
nors plain intent and desire would be an infringement
Of Religious Liberty, could see nothing wrong in
compelling Catholic children 70 recte the Westminster
Cateclism or the MINK Articles in our Common
Schools.
Gentlemen opposite You have beaten Us this time
but your triumph will not endure We shall meet you
at hiIppi