Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-11-23
[From the New York Metropolitan Record.
Catholic AbOIitIOnIsm.

Catholic AbOlitiOnIsm.
The Cincinnati Weekly Enquirer is perfect
ly right when it says that "a large majority Of
the clergy and laity' of our Church "have de-
clined to follow the unhappy example of some
OF their number in that section of the country
who have voted with the aboltionists No
matter who says to the contrary, whether he
be in high or low position, the Catholics have
no sympathy with Puritanism either in politics
or religion, and the Catholic who votes in IA
vor OF that element in this country, whether
he vote conscentiousy or as u matter of in
terest, arrays himself in antagonism TO the
instincts and feelings Of his people. We have
heard enough about the sin Of slaveholding -
1t is no sin. If it is why is the man who
holds slave allowed,to receive the Sacramento
Then, again. il is said that the mission of
our Savior was to 'set men free" Yes, His
mission was to set me free from the slavery of
sin but as slavery is not sin in the eyes of
the church, His mission had no reference
whatever to that institution. 1t is a notorious
fact that during the three years of His mis-
sion He never said one word in denunciation
of slavery, although there we're no less than
sixty millions of slaves at that time in the Ro-
man Empire. Bishops of the church have held
slaves before now, and assertions like those
referred to are calculated not only to misead
the Catholic mind with reg ard to the relation
which the Church views the peculiar insttu-
ton, but to imbitter the bloody controversy
that is now being waged between the North
aud South.
If Catholics would not be misled on this
subject, they will read the able and conclusive
letters of the late Right Reverend Doctor Eng
land, the erudite aud illustrious Bishop of
Charleston. 1t is our intention to publish
these letters from time to time, that our fell
low Catholics may not be led astray by any
man If the Enquirer desires TO know how
the Third Provincial Council of Cincinnati
treated the question as to the propriety Of in
Producing the subject of slavery into the
church, he will find all the information he
wants in the following paragraphs from the
Patoral Letter of that Council
at is not for us to inquire into the causes
which have led to the present unhappy condi-
ton of affairs This inquiry belongs more
appropriately to those who are directly CON
cerned in managing the affairs of the Repub-
lie. The spirit of the Catholic Church is
eminently conservative, and while her minis
ters rightfully feel deep and abiding interest
in all that concerns the welfare of the coun-
try, they do not think it their province to
enter into the political arena. They leave to
the ministers Of the human sects to discuss
from their pulpits and their ecclesiastical as
semblies the exciting questions which lie at
the basis Of most OF our present and prospec-
! tive difficulties. Thus, while many of the
sects have divided into hostile parties on an
exciting political issue, the Catholic Church
has carefully preserved her unity of spirit in
the bond of peace literally knowing no North
/, no South, no East and no West Wherever
Il %, 10 ho oho1 a L.
saved, there she is found with her ministra
: tions OF truth and of mercy She leaves the
t exciting question referred to precisely where
inspired the Apostle of the Gentiles left it
contenting herself, like him, with inculcating
7 on all classes and grades of society the faith
q ful discharge of the duties belonging to their
respective states of life, knowing that they
will all have to render strict account to
God for the deeds done in the flesh, that this
life is short and transitory, and that eternity
never ends. Beyond this point her ministers
do not consider it their province to go, know
ing well that they are ministers of God, who
n is not God OF dissension, but of peace and
e love.
r "Had this wise and conservative line oil
l conduct been generally followed throughout
b the country, we are convinced that much OF
o the embttered sectional feeling which now
J., unfortunately exists would have been obviat-
+ ed, and that brotherly love, the genuine off
spring of true Christianity, instead of the
fratricidal hatred which is obviously opposed
to its essential genius and spirit would now
bless our country, and bind together all our
e felow-citizens in one harmonious brotherhood
May God, in his abounding mercy, grant that
the sectaranism which divides and sows dis
sensions may gradually yield TO the Catholic
spirit which unites and breathes unity anC
e love"
We may add that the pastoral from which
> we make the foregoing extracts was signed BY
: the following prelstes OF the province of Gin
cinnati:
+ JOHN BAPTIST,
Archbishop of Cincinnati.
! PETER Paul,
Bishop of Zela, Coadjutor
Administrator of Detroit
h AMEDEUs,
|. Bishop of Cleveland.
MARTIN JOIN,
} Bishop of Louisville
y MAURICE,
h Bishop of Vincennes
GEORGE ALoYsIus i4A tt
IS Bishop of Covington,
le FREDERICK,
Bishop of saut Ste Marie
JoHN Henry,
Bishop Of Fort Wayne.
20 What is to be thought Of those who set {
re defiance the wholesome, conservative, an
n truly Catholic counsel contained in this provil
= cal letter2 1t says, "Had this wise and col
u servative line of conduct been generally 70
of lowed throughout the country, we are convin
ed that much of the embittered sectional fee
y ing which now unfortunately exists wou