The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-08-20
Deacons Again.

Deacons Again.
0The Southvestern Presbyterian still dodg-
ing the point of our lecture to 1t on the
deacon question, comes back at M In fine
historical style. We asserted, first, that the
labors of monks had wrested fens and mo-
rasses from their wildness, transforming
them into smiling provinces, and, secondly,
that they had been robbed of their posses
sions by Protestants or In accordance with
their counsels.
The Presbyterian does not deny either OF
these facts, and yet wastes column In
getting around them.
1st. 1t dwells with great gusto upon
certain alleged frauds and forgeries by
which the Popes obtained concessions of
many provinces at many different times
and from q variety of different princes.
Now it appears to us that, after the two or
three first forgeries, these princes ought to
have been on their guard. But, aside from
that, what has this question of the Papal
States to do with Church property They
did not belong to the Pope as property.
They did not change owners when they
of rightful sovereignty over them is totally
different from that of the confiscation OF
private property.
I'd. A partisan statement of Hallam that
the donations of pious people to the Church
were obtained by undue influence on the
part of the clergy. We all know what
such assertions without proof are worth,
and we all know that Hallam was just as
liable to the mastery of bigotry and preju-
dice as the lesser historical luminary of the
Presbyterian. But, again, this has nothing
on earth to do with our assertion about
the fens and morasses. These are the par
ticular Church possessions about the rob-
bi ng and spoliation Of which we especially
complain. Talk up to them.
Sd. The "msjor communication, lately
published by us 1.-THE Presbyterian is
framed not for the purpose of punish
ing depravity of morals, but simply as
a terror to those who seek to lay hold
on Church property" This powerful
argument is announced as being perhaps
the most conclusive possible as to the
" covetousness of the Romish Priesthood
History was exhausted in the two splendid
specimens above given and now contem.
poraueous matters are triumphantly in
voked. Well, what greater depravity Of
morals" can an ordinary mortal see than
robbery land sacrilegef Confscation, wher
unjust, is nothing in the world but high
handed TO bbery, and when aimed against
the possess ions of the Church it is inter
fering with things set apart to God ant
therefore sacrilege. The Presbyterian ma
alwaysl dwelt- with 30 much complacenc!
on spoliations from the Catholic Churcl
that it has lost the ordinary vision OF com
mon humanity in such matters, but VIVA
a kind of morality would it recognize In
q forcible seizure by an Episcopalien army
?. it's Church on Lafayette Square, and a foI
d chile appropriation by some Baptist par
j. sons of the private residences of leadln
d Presbyterian Ministers in this cityf
y But supposing this ecclesiastical censu'
le to be an unanswerable proof of " covetou
y ness.n what on earth has that to do wit
III those posse sessions which were rightfully o.
tanned and with that system of managir
Church property which we recommend
to our neighbor9
fe To the charge that Professionals robb
of and counseled the robbery of the Chur
ne the Presbyterian answers:
ne LIST. That Henry VIII. was Cat2o
'as and styled Defender of the Faith. Wi
-: this precious little piece of humor, it
ha+ misses the whole history Of Henry, Eli
i've beth and Cromwell. 1t ignores the p
EN- ceedings of German, Danish, Swedish
of Dutch princes and monarchs.
hes I'd. 1t dwells, in ertenso, upon the sp'
st. ations in Catholic countries - Fran
God Spain, Mexico and Italy. We said distine
,ted tho+ co1yin and h;s nartv committed til
at 1.,l. u .rh., +bav bod tho mower.
ph's =, 49,, -, .1'.,hoanotn Have
tive, .o""'''',' - C.t,,o,;. .rn+ries \
port 'neso ioooo ... W
teer, the oirec' h"i' VI