The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-20
The tablet and the Irish Church.

The New 1Ork IdOtet, one Oh Out AOAcos
American Catholic Journals, has, in arecent
issue, taken grounds in reference to the
Irish Church Establishment, of which the
justice is not exactly self-evident The
Tablet rather deprecates the policy of dis
endowment.
Now, no matter how ingenious and con-
elusive it's arguments may prove ON exami-
nation, the>case is prima tacie very much
against it: Wethink it safe to say, gener-
ally, that the whole Catholic population OF
Ireland, lay and clerical, is enchanted at
the prospect of success for the project.
They may be unduly biased by the fact OF
their being the parties who have to pay the
enormous taxes so much complained of, but
their experience has extended over SO many
generations, that they ought to have had
chances of viewing the question in good
many different lights by this time.
The Tablet fears that the destruction of
the Establishment will be the removal of
an important break water; that though
undertaken id the name of religious liberty,
it will really be consummated in the inter-
est of Infidelity. 1t prefers Professionalism
to Atheism.
1t is unnecessary to discuss the question
whether Professionalism or Infdelity is the
more formidable antagonist of the Faith.
There is room to believe that Catholicity
would make short work of Infidelity were
it not for the powerful enemy in its own
camp called Professionalism, and that this
latter is far more of a breastwork for lnfi-
deity against the conquering advance Of
Catholicity, than the other way.
But supposing it granted that heresy is
less Objectionable than unbelief, is it worth
the price necessary for its maintenance in
Ireland7 Is there such imminent danger
in that country from the aggressive spirit
of Civism that the Church need advocate
the perpetuation of heresy as protection
for itself 1t would appear that there is
rot much left for Infidelity to do. 1t can
not attempt to secularizc education more
thoroughly than Professionalism has done in
this country, and the abandonment OF
Maynooth seems about the only event
which is really to be dreaded.
The evil of the Establishment is patent
and appreciate; that expected from an en-
franchised Civism might never occur. The
oppressive burden of ecclesiastical taxes is
q matter of daily moment; it fills the land
with poverty and woe, but if it should be
removed, and Professionalism left to disap-
pear by decay, it is by no means certain
that the spirit of Infidelity would impose
burdens equally as heavy upon the people
| Irreligion never has the popularity o
even a false religion. During moments o
phrensy it may sway the mob to violence
and wrong, but it has no permanent infiu
ence with people at large. Its oppresslv
measures would be far less sure of popula
support than those of dominant religion
strengthened by the fanaticism OF delude
followers. Public wrong must be perpe
trated under the influence of a certain mis-
guided enthusiasm, and Irreligion has n
7 enthusiasm. Its tyranny would appeal
: no sympathy of the masses, and they woui
' soon revolt at its cold philosophy.
I At any rate, it would be hardly just
n rate SO high the evils which may or ma
8 not accompany a succeeding regime, as
h prefer retaining the present system with Il
8 ills which are crushing and inevitable. M
:, Questions of policy are involved in uncel
Q tainty questions of right or wrong are SUI
g ceptible of an infallible solution. We kno
y that the Protestant endowment in Irelan
) is an outrage and a crime. Let 1T pas
Let us not timidly shrink from phanto
y future, which will recede as we approac
THE HIBERNIAN BENEVOLENT AssoCI-
TIoN.-We are glad to congratulate tn
:, excellent Association upon its rapid pr
gress to the highest success. We are
formed that every meeting sees the list