The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-05-24

The IRISH PROTESTANT ESTABLISHMENT.
We commend to the attention of our dis
senting friends the following extracts from
leading article in the New York Protestant
Church,san, the organ of the low, So
called "evangelical'' faction in the Ameri-
can Episcopal Church, and which cannot,
therefore, be suspected of any affinity with
Catholicism. The sentiments of the editor
are creditable to his head and heart, and in
dictate the detcstation of the American Pro-
testant of the wrongs and oppression of the
Green Isle of the Sea:
The patent fact is that the great mass of
the people of Ireland are compelled to con-
tribute to the support of a religious system
which they believe to be false. The method
of that compulsion is not indeed as objec-
tionab1e as formerly. Since the Commute
ton Act of 1882, the tithes are not levied
upon the produce of the tenant, but are re-
cOverable from the landlord. This, how
ever, only DISCUSSES, it does not remove the
fact. The present state of things is part
: of that intolerant and penal system pursued
against the Roman Catholics of Ireland in
the last century, and is the only part which
has been able, so far, to resist the progress
of liberal opinion.~SOme of the features of
this system seem now almost incredible.
One act subjected all who maintained the
supremacy of the Church of Rome to the
penalties Of a prcmuniie. Another Imposed
fines on absence from parish church ON Sun
day, Another was for the purpose of pre-
venting Roman Catholics from being pri-
vate tutors without license from Protestant
bishops Another was to deprive Roman
Catholics of the means of educating their
own children except under Protestant
teachers. Another was to prevent intermar-
riages of " Romanists and Protestants.
Al
been done away; and, so far as the reli-
gious grievances of ireland are concerned,
the last evil is the existence of the Irish
State Church.
The principal grounds upon which it's
continued existence has been justified are,
first, that it has been the work of Ireland it
sell, through the Irish Parliament, and in
the acceptance of the terms of the Union in
1901. second, that the present establish
ment represents the ancient Irish Church.
AS to the first, no pretense could be more
grOundiess, so far as the real question at is
sue is concerned. What sort of q representa-
tive of Ireland was the Irish Parliament in
which, although three -fourths of the people
were Romanists," no Roman Catholic was
entitled to Il seat, OF even to the privilege
of suffrage! And if the present establish
ment is the legitimate successor of the an
cient Irish Church, why should it not be
maintained, as was the case in that Church.
80 without system of compulsory tithes!
1t is this which imperatively demands,
that every Protestant and every lover of
national welfare should desire it's abolition.
Nowhere is Professionalism SO intensely hated
as in Ireland. 1t is simply because it pre
SCENTS itself there in the form of an odious
exaction. And the possibility of loyal ale
glance to the government is destroyed by
the fact that the government constantly ir-
ritates, and (as they regard it, outragcs tn,
religious convictions of the people. Holdin:
these views we look with satisfaction ant
hopefnlness upon the course pursued by Mr.
Gladstone.