The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-10-08


union Of Charch snd State In this country.
The 0overunest assumes the fact that the
Bible 10 Q truthful revelation and that
Christianity isposss binding laws upon
mon. Il has arrested Brigham Young-the
Mormon Chief-for licentiousness, which
virtually means polygany. There 10 no
pretenss that the Apostle had transcended
the boundaries traced to him by bis own
religion or that his conduct complained Of
extends beyond the limits Of his marital
rights, ~ he understands them. He 10
openly aud avowedly polysamist and 10
not accused Of any acts except such - arc
recognised - lawful under that system. 1t
10, Therefore, virtually polygamy for which
he 10 under arrest and about to DO prose
cuted.
Having . plurality of wives 10 no crime
or offence under the natural law. Even
under tho Judaic dispensation it was per-
aitted in tho divine system Of legislation
which the Almighty gave to that people.
II 10 permitted at this day among an i'm
mense proportion of tho human family,
masy Of them being highly refined and
intellectual people. The Sultan Of Turkey
gives IN exsnple in this respect whish 10
followed by all his ministers, nobility and
literateurs. Tho fact 10 that it 10 ques-
ton Of religion. On NO other ground does
the United States condemn the practice
than that Of it, immortality in . Christiau
point of view and it, violent antagonism to
the principles Of Christian people.
But what right has the United States
Government to do that Its constitution
does not even recognize tho existence Of
G cd much less the divinity Of tho Christian
religion. 1t 10 clearly given out to the
world that all religions are on an equal
footing in this favored land Of equal
rights; that tho State does not pretend to
discriminate between creeds or Say which
il the best. It leaves such questions to the
citizens, protecting them al In the free en-
joyment Of their religious convictions.
Under this theory, Christian, Jew, Ma
hometan, Pagan and In6del arc all put
upon An equality, the State not consider
ing itself authorized to decide that ono 10
right and that another 10 wrong. This has
always been understood - tho Spirit Of the
| American Constitution, and 1t has hereto
fore been regarded ~ wrong to pass any
laws which might, even indirectly, bear
more heavily on the people Of one sect
than on those Of another.
| Now the action of the General Govern
ment in the arrest of the Mormon Apostl.
|issimply an attack upon the religions con
victions of that people as professed b!
them. They proclaim themselves con
WINGED that polygamy is not crime: tn
Government says it is, and, therefore
practically decides that their religion
wrong and that the Christian religion
right. 1t would be the same thing in ever
one of the States, to prosecute, under tn
law of bigamy, any bona. fde Mormon o
! Mussulman who should, with his wives
. take up his residence as q citizen of sue
|; State. 1t would be violent infringemer
; upon his religious notions of right an
wrong, and clear assumption of authorit
on the part of the State to decide religion
: questions. This train of reasoning woul
3 not, of course, apply to any crime cor
!, trary to the natural law or natural religion
such as murder or theft. Natural religio
is implanted in the nature of all men, an
+ no dishonest pretext of a false religion ca
= protect man in violating it. Al We ha,
!, already said, however, polygamy is nj
y positively condemned by this natural r
,. ligion, and, therefore, its repression by IL
4 State as an immortality can DO only on tt
ground that it is prohibited by religio
which that State recognizes as the rigl
y one. This is what we call the union
is Church and State.
n We do not make these remarks in ord
l. to censure the official action taken in Bri,
3. ham Young's arrest, nor to criticise IL
- forward step made in American policy b
,. this move. We think that the fact shoul
A be clearly recognized in public sentiment
in the unwritten constitution of our cou,
>. try, if not yet embodied in it's written or
IS that this is Christian nation. The
n any system of religion which shoul
n. scandalize our people or shock their r.
90 ligious sentiment by its open disregard
OF Christian morals, could logically be IT
no pressed in such respects