The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-28
Is Ours a Protestant Government
NEGLECT OF THE SPIRITUAL INTERESTS OF SOL
Oilers.

The Catholic Reriew of Brooklyn and the
Catholic Union of Buffalo are engaged in the
laudable work of exposing the gross injustice
of the Washington Government to our soldiers
Numerous letters from old officers and soldiers
have appeared in the columns of our contem-
poraries from one of which, written by an
officer of fifteen years standing, we make the
following extract, rs it deals almost exclu-
sivey with facts.
One word as to religion in the army. The
religious as we'll as the educational wants OF
the service have been neglected by our legsla-
tors. Laws have been passed, it is true, but
regarding the latter point, they have never
been carried out, being impract owing to
the extent of country over which army
operates and its continued movement. AS to
tho latter, tho law provides twenty five post
chaplains, and there beside six chaplains
with colorcd reg iments. AS there on an
average a ways about one hundred and seventy
six posts, it IL easily seen how far the spiritual
necessities of the men are provided for. But
farther, as onc-haf, if not two-thirds of the
army are Catholic, md as with one exception
all those chaplains are Protestant, under no
| circumstances does the government prov ide for
| tho sr jtual necessities of that number.
Now Mr. Editor, you may ask what do the
Catholics do then 2 answer, they take care of
themselves, as you generally do in School mat.
/ ters the States.
TX had been stationed with mo once in Ne
braska he would have seen fifteen out of tho
craments on the occasional visit of the priest,
and not one Suardhouse case in six months. At
another, he would have seen a priest resident,
for seven months, at the charge of q Catholic
commanding officer; Mass every day attended
by certain faithful few, quite in proportion to
the daily parish mass in any city,-and the
little chapel crowded on Sunday. In my own
experience hare kno,cn orer $4,000 subscribed
by Catholic soiate,s, to obtain at different fines,
the 8errices Of a clergyman, Thich the government
is bound in conscience to p,roride, and when the
ripaf ia n Yyia md to 1fo
linger quite as long as they do elsewhere.
Catholic soldiers, more especially Irish Catho-
lie soldiers, will have q priest, if one is to be
had, and the amount expended by them,
known to me, may doubt be largely increas-
ed by their similar action elsewhere.
The benefits to discipline of a visit to post
nized by officers of the army, that he is always
welcome and often sent for by those even W tho
do not profess the faith. Such requests hare
been sent through myself by The m0st bitter Protest.
ants and .LaS0nS.
Our army is n necessity. 1t is greatly conf
posed of Catholics, quite a number being found
among the officers. 1t is better to have u good
army than bad one. Instead, therefore, of
Nilifying il, let y, whom believe in all Cath
Ole charity to have written with the best
motives, however, enormously, use lis pen to
influence those who govern to remedy the
evils that do exist, and give Catholic officers
and soldiers the occasional opportunity of sco-
ing u clergyman of their faith.
Even Protestant England and inlidel Ger
many provide, without Partially, fer the spir-
itual wants of their soldiery. Tho present
system is simply worse than mono.
The duties OF the Chaplain and his office are
sneered at, and his services by all severely let
alone. The plan would seem to be, to provide
two chaplains-Catholic and Protestant-for
each military department., and let them visit
each post or detachment not in tho field (and
even that when possible) in regular order, and
at least as often AS once in two months.
beg you will pardon the length of my letter
but surely the needs of the Catholics of the
army must appeal to your Catholic charity.
o. Yours truly, AID.