Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-31
TRANSLATION.


REVEREND SIR:--Since under the new
Constitution certain oath is to be ex-
acted of priests, that they may have
leave to announce Gods word, and Off
ciste at marriages, which oath they can
in nowise take without a sacrifce Of &C.
clesiartical liberty, have Judged it ex-
pedient to indicate to you my opinion in
the matter, land that you may have be-
fore your eyes rule TO be followed ia a
case of this dehcacy / hope that the
civil power will abstain from exacting
such an oath But should it happen
otherwise, ] wish you to inform me Of
the particular circumstances of your po-
sition, that / may be able to give you
counsel and assistance,
am, Reverend Sir,
Your Servant in the Lord,
4 PETER RICHARD,
Archbishop Of st Louis.
We speak of the above paper as i'm
portsnt, in view of the large number Of
persons whom the Archbishop of St.
houis, in one sense, may be said to rep
resent; and further, because of the fact
that at least three-fourths Of such per.
sons have throughout the war been dis
loyal men. The question occurs, wheih-
!er we are TO understand from the Arch
bishops letter that the Catholics, as q
Church, are to array themselves in oppo.
sition to the laws of the land.
The Archbishop's letter is not as clear
to the public as it might have been
made Il expresses dissatisfaction with
the sth Of Loyalty requiredo of preachers
OF all denominations, as well as of Law.
yere, teachers, corporation directors, DC,
pronouncing it an interference With
ecclesiastical liberty That oath is re-
quired of religious instructors, because
the experience of the late rebellion has
shown that Church influence, when di.
rected to reasonable ends, as it was in
several instances in Missouri, is one Of
the most potent agencies which disloyal-
~ can employ But how that oath in
wolves sacrifice of ecclesiastical lib
erty," as the Archbishop charges, We
cannot understand, for it goes only to
the question of the citizens loyalty to the
Government, and in no wise affects
the religious faith or prEstice of any
man.
But assuming that the oath does inter.
fsre With the religious freedom OF his
chlrch, the Archbishop proceeds 70 ex-
press the hope that the civil power will
abstain from exacting such an oath. "
Bat be proceeds, Should is happen
Otherwise, | wish you to inform me Of
the particular circumstances Of your
position, that / may be able to give you
counsel and assistance" Now the i'm
portsut inquiry is, what does the Arch
bishop mean in proposing to giveF' coGn-
sci and assistance" to priests called upon
TO take the osth7 Does he mean to as
sert that the church shall be held to be
superior to the State in civil matter, and
that assista' ce shall be given to aid in
resisting the law, or are we to under
stand the object to be to take such a
!. transfer of priests as to place loyal men
where the oath cannot be avoided. We
think il unfortunate that the Archbishop
has not defined his meaning more clear
ly, as room for misrepresentation nov ex.
I lists, and injustice may be done 70 bis in.
tentions As be has placed himself be
| fore the public in this matter, it is plain
I ly bis daty to go q step further, and clear
] up all grounds for suspicion or mistake.
We should, in common with all good cit,
\ izsnss deeply regret to find the leading
Representative Of the Catholic Church
in Missouri engaged in couuseling forci-
ble resistance. to the highest Law Of The
State. We hops he win not sufsr him.
self 70 seem 70 occupy that position.