The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-06-12
English Parsons ana Catholic Priest. contrasss

English Parsons and Catholic Priests Contracted
The London correspondent of the New
York World lately published five column
letter in that paper, in which he treats of
various matters, philosophical, ethical, So
cial, moral and theological. We extract a
portion, in which reference is made to Ca
tholicism and Professionalism
49, R Re Ano"g the Working Peeple;.on
trade and reciprocity "Direct reprenta-
ton of labor" and the "Social future of
the working classes" the practical applica-
ton of positive principles has on many &C.
casions been urged with great ability by
Professor Beesly. My interviews with this
truly remarkable man were deeply interest
ing. He told me he believed it to be quite
true there was very little interest felt in
religious matters among the working peo-
pie they were much more Interested in
thinking about how they could add few
shillings to their wages; and it is we'll
enough that this is SO. Men as a rule are
because they do not really believe that
anything SO divided within and go assaulted
from without, SO trifled with by the rich
and SO unknown to the poor, can be expect
ed to give any valuable support to morals
and society. Besides this, even If man
N.
no sees in the fret place that the Prossse-
ant cfergymen of all denominatioBs in Eng
land are held in bondage by tho middle.
class members of their Conversations and
that one of the distinctive te06ts Of uftdkek
class Liberalism 10 the subjecsiea OF sase
clergy to the laity. The man who il Look
ing for q spiritual guide ID noEispt 10 take.
one who is himself guided by clique o.
haberdashers and green grocers. Them
again, the work imam in Protestant England
who troubles his head at all about these
matters is confronted with the undesirable
fact that NO Protestant church hae ever
taken the side of the poor against the rich,
no body of Protestant minihters has sys.
Dramatically labOred to morasi1e prosperity,
to discourage pOmp and luxury S1dfo inn
press on employers and prOprietors that
they are but trustees of the wealth they
hold for the benefit of the community. The
Catholic Church, although it has lost come
portion of the democratic spirit that AMI
mated it in the middle ages, is still alive to
the interests of the poor. In Ireland, the
only country in Europe where the spiritual
power is now. to be- seen independent, the
Catholic priest is the ardent champion of
the poor, and they look to him as their
only help aud protection against oppres-
sion. Thus in Ireland the people are re-
ligious, and in Englaud they are irreligioua,
ana who can wonder at it7 The IristI
priest, In his sermon after mass ON Sunday,
deals with right and wrong in the concrete,
as he sees them in real life around him,
and rebukes the sinner, even by name ii
need be, whether he be peasant, or land
lord, or trasiesuian, OF bailiff. The middle
class En9lishman, who hollis over with
anger at the idea of his minister rebukinp
him even in private, would never endure
the modification of q public reprimand
out q clergy which does not deem itself
bound To censure Offenders whom the law
cannot reach, and which has not influence
enough t" bring public opinion to bear on |
such Offenders, is nearly useless.