The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-07-31
The War and the Church.

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tholic Church with the European war
such a way as to arouse in this country
bitter prejudice against one side in til
contest and corresponding interest in til
other side. The argument is about this
the Catholic Church is identified wit
France, and naturally at war with Prussia
but all good Protestants are bound to wis
harm to the Catholic cause therefore al
good Protestants, and in fact all anti
Catholics, are bound to sympathise will
Prussia and oppose France. Our reader
may remember that some days ago tele
gram was published announcing a Pari
paper as claiming that the cause of The
Church was that of France in the pending
war. Whether this was genuine or no,
makes but little difference. Selecting sucl
an absurdity as the subject of telegram
for the associated press, shows almost as
malignant an intention as would the sheer
fabrication of it.
In the first place, there il no religious
principle whatever, of a sectarian kind, in
volved in the war It is pretty eyident
that the bad spirits of Europe and America
all favor Prussia. Carbonari, Agrarians,
Radicals and Revolutionists of every type
and of every COUNTRY, Catholic and Pro-
testant, for some reason or other, appear to
select Prussia as their champion, and hal
loo. Justify for her. Per contra, all we'll
meaning men, whether Catholics or not,
are inclined to favor the other side. From
this general tendency we must except good
Germans, who, of course, feel an especial
interest in their own country, right or
wrong. ID
But apart from this, how can any Catho-
lie and Protestant antagonism be traced in
the actual position Of partiesf 1t is said
that France, Austrie, Denmark, Norway
and Sweden are natural allies in the strug-
gle, whileiRussia, Spain and, perhaps, Italy,
incline to Prussia.
As to France itself, will any man for
moment rank that Government as friend
Of the church, The French people are
Catholic, but what of Napoleon and his
cabinet 'They occupied Rome with their
troops. Yes, for the popular sentiment,
combined with political causes, forced them
% do so, but the popular Catholic senti-
nent did not demand war with Prussia.
t had nothing on earth to do with it.
AS to Austria, the Government is nomi-
.ally Catholic with Protestant Prime
and refuses to publish the dogma
# Infallibility as well as many of the Papal
Bulls.
Denmark, Norway and Sweden are fully
On the Prussian side we find that nation
tself as much Catholic as Protestant. One
lalf the population is Catholic, and with !
ut doubt her Catholic troops will be, as
hey are in all countries, those upon whom |
he can most rely for courage in battle, |
ortitude under defeat, and fidelity under |
emptation. None of her Catholic soldiers
+ citizens arc going to regard it as a war
gainst the Church. That is certain, and |
has no misgivings on the subject. |
wen in this country, and after they have
ecome American citizens, we find our
Ierman Catholics as enthusiastic for Prus-
ia and against France as the Professionals,
I'd we don't blame them for it.
Russia is certainly not Protestant. She
not even heretical-merely schismatic.
pain and Italy are strictly Catholic, though
nder political control totally at variance
18th the popular sentiment and tendency.
In this country, SO far as sympathies
ave manifested themselves, they have
cen strictly political. The Democracy,
ppears to side with France, Radicalism
nd Capitalization with Prussia. The Irish
eople here and in Ireland lean strongly to
rance, but this, whereinit is not national
lstinct hearing on their connection with
ngland, Is a Democratic instinct.
An enthusiastic Frenchman may have
ncied that France was fighting the bat.
es of the Church or polite editor NAV
ave written in that sense for effect, but in
Their case it was uujustifable to commit
e Church, which is Catholic, to position
hich is merely partisan-to make her {
Ike sides among her own children in
larrel that is altogether secular. We ac-
lowledge ourOwn sympathies, as a Jour-
u, TO be with France, while our German
of this city, the Echo,
ows strongly Prussian affnities, as we
told. We take our position, not as
but as good citizens and disin-
rested. OurAeighbors take theirs, not as =;
citizens, but probably as good Ger t
ms. "