The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-01-08
The Church and tho People

!
It must. be consoling to every Catholi
neart to witness the movement of the peo
PIE IN behalf Of righteousness and iustice
aS rar as the present attitude of the Pom
~ concerned. Here, in our own CITY of Ne,
orleans, the first public demonstration wa
"sae' when the sacrilegious hand of tn
| roooer King of Italy was raised aaains
sne person and government of Plus TX
since then, in almost every diocese of th.
United States, meetings of Catholics hav.
oeen heid, protesting against this barbar.
GUS usurpation, so that to publish the mere
proceedings would absorb the columns q,
'he MORNING STAR to the exclusion OF
everything else. So, too, we have but to
cast glance over Europe at the present
moment In order to see how the dormant
energies of Catholics in every country are
awakening. In Austria and Hungary.
meetings have been held in almost every
town in behalf of the Pope. The Osser,o.
tore Cattotica has published upwards of
thirty different summaries of these meet
lngs and the resolutions that were passed
In them; and the ministry that wassadyerse
10 Catholic views has fallen. Tbrourbont
Germany and Prussia the people have
united In protests and addresses to their
sovereiens and to the Pope. And now we
near from the NainSer Journal, "that in
consequence of the number of Catholic de-
monstrations in Germany in behalf of the
Pope, the Prussian Government has off,
ciasly requested Bishops of that Kingdom
20 state what fneasures they think the
government should take; whether by ne
eotiafion' by a Congress, OF by arms, to
restore the Pope to the freedom desirable
Tor the discharge of his duties as head of
the CHURCH" In Holland, Belgium and
o"atzerland the same unanimity of feeling |
and the same moral pressure is being made |
ise OF by Catholics for the same common |
cause. In Spain, the "Catholic Associa-
'on," which has its branches in every pro-
7ince aad town, and gathers into one
learly every true Catholic of the Kingdom
y prayers, petitions and agitations, is
dining in the general movement. Ii was
imposed for a moment that Portugal,
wing to political freemasonry, would
tand aloof; but SO far from this being the
ase, thetCatholic press and people of that
iDgdom are as determined as any other.
England, over three quarters of mil-d
on signatures have been obtained to AN
ddress and resolutions expressive of in
ignation against Victor Emmanuel's trea-
herous conduct and of sympathy for the
ngust head OF the Church. AS to Ireland,
he whole island has been reused to q state /
indignation, which will certainly not be G
llmed until the Pope is restored to his |
ghts. "And," says the London Tablet, q
the million and half or two millions of c
atholics Of Great Britain are one in head e
I'd sentiment with their brethren in Ire l.
nd and throughout the world. We know
It what measures the Catholics of England o
ID Ireland may be driven to adopt; but =
is is certain, that they will oppose every o
'vernment that commits itself to course q
hostility to the Kingdom of the Church !, !,
d to the sovereignty of it's King; The h
lurch has been deserted by Kings and I'll
But che has entered into b'
lance with the people. The people are ~
r inheritaDce-the people and hhe poor
always with her. Christ had pity on ha
people, and he chose them to be his 40 Aa
n. His ministers are drawn from out of o'c
'ir ranks; His ministrations are poured
upon them; the Governments have per- vac vac
uted the Church, and now the Church is an
king the dust of the palaces from OFF her an
t. The people throughout the world tro
declaring that she is their kingdom, and ~,
their head must be sovereignty and tail
-itorially free and iHdenendent And citi
yer is no longer with Kings but with the nap nss
ple-and the Church.