The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-10-01
The "0ld Catholics :"

In the days when Daniel O'COnnell was
King in Ireland, there was an inkeeper who
Goat" A jealous rival set up in opposi-
ton to him, and painted over hs door the
"Old Goat" when foolish wayfarers
looked for the safe and comfortable ancient
hostlery they were taken In sometimes by
the imposter, SO that the honest tradesman
was obliged in the end to change HE sign
to the "Real Old Goat"
Now there 10 q faction of bad Catholics
W utbAf pakEtikss land At ls.ssieA GsrRaRRss
lics." although it has no moro claim to the
distinction than the roguish tavern keeper
had to call himself the Old Goat. We do
not imagine it will be necessary to warn
any real Catholic that this Old Catholic
sect isnot the church he has been taught to
believe, and in the ancient fold Of whic,
! safety and comfort alone can be had but
| it may be wise to put the foolish, who are
carried away by novelty and fine names,
on their guard against this new sect, for
that it virtually is.
From the Tolks Zeitung of Berlin we
learn that this society is restricted in nnm-
bers. Instead Of being inspired hy those
sentiments Of fidelity to the traditions Ofour
faith that its self-assumed title would lead
one to suppose, it goes In direct ansng"nism
with authority it is not conservative, but
advanced-not q faithful guardian OF the
treasures Of the past, but Q pioneer of
| sc.ismatic Innovation. CODgresses to for
ward thia movement have lseen summoped
at Munich 10 Bavaria, and Soleure 10 Swift
zerland, TO which English Puseyite parsons
have been invited. newspaper has in.en
started as the organ Of the new doctrines Iu
q town in Bohemia, aud the adherents ~.
the sect in Vienna have had the cool 'm
pudenee to petition to l,av. portion Of he
cathedral Of st. Stephens set apart fol
the celebration Of their peculiar service.
These 90 Old Catholics" are no more ca
tholics than the followers of the Greek
Church are, as the siugle fact Of their ex'
{ supremacy of the Pope, amply establishes
If we required other proofs Of theii
, errors we have them in the list o
> "reforms" (ill-omened name) they pu
: forward as necessary in the system o
D the Catholic Church. They demand tha
3 communities shall have the right to choos'
. their own priests; that the clergy, lik'
4 other servants of the community, shall b
Q paid fixed salaries by the community, ant
s shall not be dependent upon or removabl
d by an ecclesiastical superior; that tn
s clergy shall be. at liberty to marry; tha
v cathedral chapters shall be abolished tina
{, in Divine service the language of the coun
4 try shall be used that all Masses, maj
T riages, funerals, etc, shall be performe
g gratuitously and, finally, that auricula
q confession, pilgrimages and procession
q shall cease. In one sentence, they wish
= upset all discipline, to ignore all previor
1t teaching, to be revolutionists in religion ,
~ others are in politics-to become eccles
" astical Reds We should not be surpriss
It if the first act Of their coming congre
r. were to excommunicate the Holy Fathe
" but we should be very much surprised il
ID deed IL that accommodation had 9th
re effect than that other one referred to wi
To rather a profane hit in the " Ingolsby L
N gends."-London Uniyerse.