The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-04-20
Mornlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
new oRLRANs. SUNDAY. APRIL 20, ,s.s.

and Information. 1t was one tnInS " s
discussion IN the papers, accurate az Ano ~
the reporters nre-indesd their accuracy u "a
me q source of wonder when on tho foiiowine
morning, l zee how they have taken, wore tot
with most stammerirg lips but 1t 10 another
thing altogether to hear debate. IL IN IKE
putting q thermometer into the SEQ. You can
tell the tenipersture-the heat or the cold OF
public opinion; you can know what the Leg
fslature 10 disposed to do or refuse; and you
can find that ont in NO way as you can ny pa
tiently, and may say laborionsly, listening
for some seven hours of the night ! have
heard the whole Of the debate, and this,
must say, that on tho part OF the Government,
am perfectly convinced that their desire was
conditions of that Parliament, and the public
opinion of this most divided, and I an sorry
to say, anti-Gstholio opuntry-for so 1t IL 70 Q
great extent They did their utmost, firmly
believe. / do not speak this rs partizsn or
supporter, for have already protested thet
am no more of politician tban the Bishop OF
Liverpool; but I believe they did most hon
tboics Of Ireland the power Of obtaining de-
grees upen terms consistent with their con.
sciences. And mnst say this, that the Bill did
give to the Catholics of Ireland the power OF OBJ
tanning degrees upon terms better tina. those on
which Catholics can take degrees in England.
will say what point this 10 true. No ca
tholic in England can take degree without
deity Of Oxford, or of going to the boudon
University and 1T the London University NO
Catholic can take q degree without being ex-
amineA In the ethics and in the, metaphy sizes
university. Now, IL there was one thing that
struck me, may say with shame, 1t Was the
way in which some members of the Heuse OF
treated the most wise and jas: pro
not to be defeude& Let us put two facts,
and viii say no moro on tho subject. The
6rst'fact is, young Catholic came to me ON
Saturday week while the discussion was
. ms hA WI m vi N n 4
London University for o degree; that he was
attending the lectures Of the mstaphys ioal and
philosophical professors, and that although he
he could not find the apswer to the conclu-
sions-tbat though having the faith we'll
founded in him. be was perplexed and con-
fused by that false philosophy. And now
would ask whether this Yves not most just
reason to exempt all Catholic yoaths from be-
ing forced 10 undergo an examinafion in phil
esophy which is fundamentally false--not only
cause the study of false philosophy perverts
the form and shape of the intelligence, and,
may say, alters the structure of the brain.
The only other point I will add 10 this:-Sup-
posing it had been required for degree in
ireland chat young Catholic should be ex-
anined in some heterodox Interpretation of
the Christian religion, woald any man have
endured it'll Everybody would have said that
to force young Catholic to be examined in
heretical matter would be tyranny. But I
would like to ask what Is the examination of
% young Catholic in the Atheistic philosophy,
In the philosophy Of the Positivists, and of
tho secularists who deny that the existence
of God can DO proved who deny that Code x-
lists at all who say that the soul does not ex-
ist az distinct from the material body; who
deny that there 10 such q thing o conscience;
no fnstlnctIye ulsIInction betw cen right and
wrong This is tho modern philosophy
through which the Catholic youth of Ireland
would have been compelled to pass If not WISE
ly and justly exempted under that bill. AJAX
you, gentlemen, if heresy in matter of revela-
tion be thing that no Christian can venture
to require of Catholic youth, even Id the
form of examination, becapse it is denial of
an article of revealed truth, what is to be said
if 1t is required that Catholic youth should
study and get up and be examined in o phios.
ophy which denies the truths OF religion
philosophy of o nature which Alls his mind
with heresles that subvert those Truths OF ma
turo upon which revelation itself rests. do
not know whether make my meaning clear.
If heresy in the matter OF revelation DO q
thing intolerable, the denial Of truths of nntu-
raj religion, accepted by even Pagans, makes
the matter worse. l am not an apologist
of this I'LL. The Catholic bishops of Ire
: land have taken the only course they could
have taken. Fully recognizing as I rec
osgnise the desire Of the Government to deal
justly, and to put university degrees within
their reach, believe they would have ao-
cepted that even though there were no endow-
lnents. They would have said, Let the en-
dowments pass as the endowment of the Es-
tAblished Church, now disestablished, were re-
fused by us. Let them pass, but give us a
sonnd university education But what did
this bill dot 1t extended, 1t consolidated, fur
Their endowed, made permanent, and gave an
impulse which would have extended all over
IRELAND TO tue same system of mixed Goddess
education against which the Bishops of Ire
land have protested since IS45. quite admit
that on the ono hand tho Government could
hardly have done otherwise than press on in
that course which was opened in that year.
The condition Of legslatian in this country
we all know. Governments are not free agents.
tubhs opinion holds tyrranous slavery over
them. Parliament bends to public opinion.
ana therefore | au mot blaming them though
lament IT., But do you remem Der tho faess
OF the ca.ei In 1s4S, OConnell, on the 23d
Pt june denounced the bill, saying England
will never accept Goddess education, alas, and
am afraid he was speaking with too much
oonhdence-' aud Ireland 10 essentially a reli-
gtons country. Inddelity does not exist in
Ireland: Be just and do net fear. Let there
be Prcsbyterlanism ter Presby terians, Protes-
entism Tor Protestants, Catholicism for Cath
ones. OConnell denounced that NiIl, He
called It Goddess, and the Bishops of Ireland
St that time-though some were disposed from
i 5ne novelty of tho subject, and from not know
ing what Judgment to form to supDort it-con.
Gemned 1t at the Synod of Thurles. The HoIv
poe condemned IT. ana il it to be belIeyeS
thHt the Catholic Bishops Of Ireland in ls73
orc 10 depart from that nafI in vrh;aL ~