Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-07

The MARRIAGE OF FATHER HYACINTHE.-
The telegraph briggs word ithat Father Hya-
cinthe has written letter to LIE Temps, the Paris
newspaper, announcing ana justifying his APP
preaching marriage. This announcement will
be received by the Papa party in the Catholic
church withia chorus of derision and execration
1T was for this" then, his brethren in the
priesthood will say, "that you went out from us !;
It was because the rule of celibacy was too strict
for you; it was because you wanted indulgen-
cles which we in the church are not allowed.
ms is what Old Catholicism means. 1t is only
triumph of the lower nature over the higher.
It'll only an opening of the gates to carnality
and Selhshness." That some such estimate as
this will be placed upon his conduct by the in
fallbsts is certain; and we, who have hoped
that the movement ofwhich he is one the lead
ers might peryade and liberalize the whole
Catholic church, haze sometimes wished that
he would not permit his enemies to bring this
accusation against him, unjust and unfounded
as we know it to be.
But it now appears that the reform to which
he has devoted his life must be carried on with
out rather than within the Roman church. The
old Catholic movement is assuming more and
more every day the aspect of an organized re-
form, The church of which DOllinger and
Friedrich, in Germany, and Hyacinhe and
Mlchaud, in France, are the leaders, Is now toll
eraDly certain to be separate organization
with synod and a constitution Of its own
There may be yet in the minds of some of the
leaders hope of reconciliation with the infal-
lblists; but the logic of events is against the
realization of any such hope. If, then, the old
Catholic church is to have a creed and cultus
OF its own, it is evident that now is the time to
settle the fundamental principles of its organi-
cation. Among the reforms which will undoubt-
eddy be introduced is the repeal of the rule re-
curing the celibacy Of the clergy. That pro-
gramme which Professor Friedrich recently
printed in the Deuscher Mercur, and which is a
rough draft of the leading features of the reform
proposed, Includes as our readers will remem-
Der, this proposition!
In taking this bold step, Father Hyacnthe is,
then, distinctly proclaimng his own conviction
that this reform is necessary. 1t is no new doc
trine with him. No man has pleaded more elo
quently thar he for the dignity aud the sacred
ness of marriage and celibaoy has always been
regarded by him not as a rule of obligation, but
as a rule of eXpediency. In the great revolution
now going forward in the church, he sees the
opportunity tor the relaxation of the rule, and
for the restoration to the priesthood of rights
and blessings long withheld. We do not know
what this justification will be; but it is safe to
predict that It will not be any pitful plea for in
diligence, but noble vindicaton of the sacred
ness of the family, and of the need, in which
priests share equally with other men, Of its safe
guards and OF Its ennobling discipline. The
marriage of Father Hyacinthe marks an era in
the old Catholic movement, and shows that the
reform will be radically. Y. Independent.