, 1869-08-13
The RORAN CATHOLIC CHURCH In
ILIIN0iS

t1A A-A-A Aoh 9seCe0aatA1lA} SbbE011A 70 lQG
chuschnan- While in every grade of ele7-
icals there are gentlemen who adoru their
stations by their great ability, it is never
tneless often the case that a very small
stuck cf brains suffices Tor succosslul
! cleric. The Western WutrAmnn, printed
in St. Louis, which styles itself "a Cath.
''ofie journal, devoted to the interests Of
1.-THE Church in the West" is practical e1-
ample. 1t undertakes to deny the right
Of THE cH1cAeo TE1prSE 10 discuss the
Affairs Of the Catholic Church. and CON-
| nsents with supposed severity upon recent
| article in this paper, which it maliciously
attributes to a "clerica1 orgination. It
insists that The Church is "a complete auton-
omy, ind that, as in our army, any
" accusation against IN officer, published
hy an officer in the public press, Is certain
- to result in the discharge Of the officer SO
publishing, SO in the Church" But TEE
CHICAGO THtBCaE is not subject to tie a1,-
thority Of the autonomy, and cannot, there
fore, be e1tirguisAed; and whenever the
adai.s Of that Church are thrust before the
public, and become legitimate subjects for
pnhlic discussion, this paper does not nsk
permission to state facts OF to comment
thereon. There was recently number
Of Bishops. and Archbishops, and clergy
men Of the Catholic Church in this city;
it was perfectly legitimate for the secular
press to state the fact. The previous dis
turbed and unpleasant condition of the
affairs Of Le diocese: the peculiar condi-
ton of tho actual Bishop, and the prospect
Of an early appointment Of SUCCESSOR.
we're subjects freely talked Of among the
clergy and laity, mud were nlso matters
| falling leeitiulately within the province Of
discussion by the secular press. There is
and cau be no autonomy whose official acts
are not open to comment; and, while the
SECULAR press has nothing to do With the
theology Of my man, it has the right
to discuss Ill questions Of Law and
policy, whether ecclesiastical or ma
tional, aud in That right can submit to no
dictation OF interference. 4 mans lumes-
tie affairs are sacred from the intrusion Of
the press, until Tint man brings them be-
fore the public, and then they are as open
to public discussion as the last horse-race
or the next eclipse. This freedom Of the
press IS the strongest safeguard Of the free
dom Of religion No church would be safe
II it bad not the right to defend itself
through the only practicable means Of
reaching the public. Bishop Duggan's ill.,
trinity WAS fact, necessitating the appoint
uent Of an administrator, iust as tho de-
cease Of tho Bishop Of Alton nccessitated
the onnointmcnt Of m administrator for
the sonthe,n Diocese If Ills state. 1t,sn
u,5sara1,,a as-n,,nt,o, of orc,ns;rarosa N
dan- W. tba ,,aut,,nr,o-. ,f 4,,a co,,nt-1- tho
r;,b, - onno,,nco ,hasa focts ond ~ son,
,usn, ,1,un ,1,.u r.. -,1,,';,,;e,..,,s -
1,a,1, I7;,,oaa,s Ill ..;-,.,.L.;.1 .-os, ~
sraI,.;.,,as - e, '.,,;,. 49,, s,:,,a. a;.,'a.
~ N,,.o .c;a,,... ,h,,,,, H. an,:-. - IT,
Cnr-,,. ,,aT,'.a 49,. san's., w ~ .',.,,;s 49,
.,o,re~n,ax .ra.u Inc ~ ovn-,;1oa 49, 49,
-, ,;ls.,r1. H., f-a.,.. @'s''e'
,. .,' 49,, -: 49,. "A14i.
s40io' ~ ~ I'o0 Oto.eao Las ~" -
-. ' auu "1'eo ~. "ssA 6,.H ~ .ae PuD
Ae tufoueu LIZ aodtesa pubHsaeA III tlle
6eculu1 press. il case IL point. II apnears
1, :. ~, :. ~. e., - -
tHAt al of11lubue1u, Ii tu1s SLAtef LAe Iutg
rtfr1sf. 10 necent the nastors sent them l,y
:,
sf 4ha -.fusn1 ia tho+ rho nm ;o-itr cf tta
- 49, 49, "7e' ~ 4At tH- +4'"1"Attt VI 'oo