New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-01
CATHOLIC CHuRoH PROPERTY.

bill is before our Legislature of which the o9ec is
briefly thiso permit the property given or otherwise
confded to one Bishop Of Diocese t. enure TO his sue
cessor in Office by virtue Of bis succession Though re-
ported after mature delibcratOn by Senator Iaber OF
Albany, sound lawyer Of ripe experience and firm'
Old School Presbyterian fear it is destined to defeat
To stand up for equal rights for ourselves and our
Kindred and TO insist on the fullest Liberty in matters
Of Faith so far that Faith accords substantially With
our own notions Of right is easy enough. Tsere never
dcsPot bigot who did not favor aud prize such
liberty IL is only when il demands Of Us equal lati-
tude for views reject and practices condemn that
the American principle Of absolute equality and ifee-
dom in matters Of Faith goes against the grain
Our laws respecting the title management and trans
mission of property devised or contributed for Church
purposes are very good tie MAN, but they were made
by Protestants based on Protestant IDEAS and adjusted
to Protestant needs They all contemplate the manage
ment Of the temperatures OF each religious society by
trustees OF espmen chosen b. the thereof
Butthe genius ofthe Roman Catholic Church is radically
different, and requires radically different legislation
The Bishop absolutely controls the churches and
church property of his diocese and send into any
church priest of his own choice in defiance Of the
remonstIance Of every member of the congregation.
Now it is very clear that this tremendous power in the
hands of the Bishop is at deadly with notions
of policy aud justice; but the Romansts have not So
lcited Protestant judgment the soundness Ofther
eccesiastcsl pOlity, and neither constrained nor
inclined TO take it, What they do ask is simply that
they be allowed and legally enabled to manage their
OVID affairs in their way, and We can perceive no
sound principle which this liberty may be denied
them Convince them if you can that their poity IS
wrong and should be abandoned al their ears with ex-
poshations and their dwellings with tracts bur ior
those vlo after all remain uneonyinced, We see 40
course truly usti1abe and republican but to let them
have their own way.
For instance: wealthy Catholic dies and leaves
portion of his estate to Archbishop Hughes for religious
uses In process of time, the Archbishop dies likewise
To whom shall that property belueathe1 descend
Should it 20 to DR.. Hughes's nePhews, aun's aud
cousins or to Lis successor in Office for that is the
exact question 10 be decided Ut Albany
We say, Let the intent OF the deviser govern the
decision. lfany ft to give John Hughes SUN
Of money, Jet John Hughes do with il as be sees fit :
but if he gives il the Archbishop Of the Diocese Of
New-YOTk, let it continue the property of said Arch
bishop Sheiher lie be John Hughes somebody else II
We mean anything by talking of the Rights OF Property
Religious Liberty &c, let the testsOrs plain intent
govern the disposal of his bequest And this is the
and substance Of Senator Taber's bill
We have seen with regret attempts 70 dAFken cOan-
sci BY learned talk Of statutes OF mortman dangers Of
the absorption of properly by ecclesiastical corpora
tons, &C. &c Al that Is well in It's place, but j. is
utterly aside from the question pending Albany
Re strict the accumulation Of property BY religious
porstions within reasonable limits by plain aud positive
statutes but let those be general enactments so framed
As 70 lear equally on al. Let Roman Catholics who
see t build churches &C. without surrendering them
TO the Bishop, but let those who prefer give their
own property for ecclesiastical uses according to the
genius and rules Of their Church, encounter No legal
mpedinent in a land Of Religious Freedom