The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-04
The Duty Of Catholics.

The Duty Of Catholics.
| While all the world is engaged in form
ing conjectures as to the probable result
OF the great Franco-Prussian war, there i.
a higher and broader view to be taken O
the present crisis, and one in which, as the
London Register says, Catholics are pecu
liarly interested. As upon every previou.
occasion, when a cloud has seemed to lowe,
upon Catholic France, the hereditary
hatred of Saxon to Celt has at once exhibit.
ed itself in the menacing utterances of a
rabid party, who have not even the dis
erection to disguise the real motives by an
affectation of honesty and fair play. Gas
sumo virtue If you have 1t not" may not
be very high moral maxim, but it is re-
commended by common decency uadcr
some circumstances. That Protestant Gov
ernments, particularly that of England,
have been jealous of those who aided his
Holiness, more especially since the disper-
sion OF the revolutionary rabble at Men
tana, Ia we'll known. The men who in
vented heresy rather than live under q
moral code, and afterwards invented a his
tory to avoid the exposure of its falsehood,
naturally desire that similar blessings
should be the portion of all mankind. They
shrek out freedom; but their freedom is a
freedom from religion freedom from a
belief that they are responsible for their
actions, whether good or bad; freedom
from every restraint to their speculative
vagaries or animal passions, and from every
worship save the worship of worldly sue
cess. They offer to their disciples "the
of tho world and their glory.n
as the reward of submission. Truth and
faith are sternly prescribed, and those who
dare uphold them are visited with undying
hostility. The Holy Father, as the per-
petual exponent of truth, is the centre of
all their attacks-the object of all their
To effect his overthrow
they have tried every possible expedient
and have failed. However, a crisis has
arisen, in which France, hitherto the de-
fender of the Papal States, has been com
PEELED to withdraw it's troops. Here, then,
is an opportunity for the enemies of the
Church. There is no other Catholic power
able or willing to stir in it's defence. Hence
'he feeling, let there be another Waterloo.
Let Europe combine against. France, and
professionalism is supreme in Europe. What
| glorious reply to the Council of The Va
lean! But they should remembe that
trance Is France, and no change of dynasty
AN change the loyalt of the eldest dan : H.
cr of the Church. In the meantime the
luty of Catholics is clear. His Holiness is
ably in need of money. Let Catholics,
hen, enrol themselves in his ranks without
lelay. We see how Prussans and French
nen are rushing eagerly forward to defend
heir respective countries with their lives,
nd what have those countries done for
hemY They have given them bread, per-
APPS position and name. But surely
catholics receive more than this from the 4
'icar of Jesus Christ AS the mouthpieee
truth he imparts to them faith, and as i
he source of all jurisdiction, every heavenly 8
lessing comes to them through him. Like {
ne Divine Shepherd, he has suffered too
IT his sheep, and his whole life has been :
fe OF martyrdom, only frightened and 1
lade joyous by the reflection of his own
anctified spirit, and the consoling evil
ences of an unwavering affection on the
art of his millions of faithful children. (
We repeat, then, that in the face of pass
lg events, and bearing in mind the uncer- =
'inty of the future, it is the duty of every t
atholic to act without delay, and manifest c
is devotion to Plus TX. by the simple but =
ous act of contributing according to their O
cans to the fund having for it's object the q
'fence of the centre of unity and him who 7
couples the sublime position of Vicar of -
hrist on earth. Catholics of New Orleans, G.
e you alive to your duty in this regard c.
Boston has live nObleman on its hands
tho .,nrnnn of tho Mnrnnis oe G.