The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-29
AID FOR THE PoPE.-Now that the STAR

AID FOR THE POPE.-N0W that the STAR
AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER is to be made
the medium of acknowledging the cont1ibu-
lions of the faithful in this archdiocese, the
following from that sterling publication,
lie Monde, will be found pertinent:
The charity of Catholics pours into the
POntifical Treasury in a continuous stream,
| the necessary resources to meet the immense
expenses of the Holy See. The irreigious
journals jibe at this. After having aided
in the robbery of the Holy See, they insult
its poverty, and reproach it for stretching
out its hand over the whole of Europe. But
where is the government that does not
stretch forth its hand Who is the Minister
of Finance whose emblem Ia not n bowl al
ways filled and always empty The Gov
eminent of the Holy Father acts only as
other Sovereigns do if he receives offer
Ings from every quarter of the world, it is
because all people are his people, and in
every region are found his devoted subjects
and faithful children. He does nothing but
ask what others require And what emo
bles this tribute is, that it is not paid on
the presentation of a stamped document by
the Tax Collector, or the compulsory pro-
cess of a revenue officer. A voluntary con-
tribution is more honorable to the Govern
ment that receives it than IL forced tax.
Moreover, the Holy Father has not even
asked for it. OF all the words that have es-
capped his lips during twenty years, there
has not been Il single syllable that reasons
of a superior order did not determine: JUS
tice, the interests of religion, the spiritual
wants of souls are the exclusive subjects
of the ailocutions which he has addressed
to the world, and never will YOU find the
materialistic reasoning which characterizes
the address of other SOvereigns mingling
with these great questions. Catholics act
in advance of his wishes. The Bishops
claim the honor of exciting the charity of
their diOcesans. Everything is done spOn-
taneously, without the expression even of a
desire on the part of Rome.
Why should not Catholics voluntarily
pay to the Sovereign Pontiff a tax equal to
that which their own government exacts of
them! Why do they not, when entering on
their expense book the sum that the collector
will take from them, enter an equal sum
to so into the treasury of Peter Pence :
What does uch-a tribute represent the
price of security, of public order, of justice,
of peace, often of glory. And if the Holy
See is overturned, what government can
hold together If there be war at Rome,
! where will there be peacef And what glory
can compensate our humiliation if the
Sovereign Pontiff, the king of our souls,
the representative of Christ, should be driv-
en- into exile The authority of this Sow
ereign extends over us; it is no less respect
ed, because it is not supported by bayo-
nets, and from his hands we receive benefits
and blessings which no other human power
can bestow. 1t is, therefore, proper to offer
him a contribution, which, how voluntary
soever 1t may be, is no less Just than any
tax we pay, because it is more visibly the
payment Of services re ndered. -