The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-25
Religion and Politics.
Cleveland, Ohio, Catholic universs

cleveland. Ohio, Catholic Universs.i
The question has been raised, and debated
with some asperity, whether it is prudent
for Catholics to take their religion into
politics. The point is not worth discussing.
There is no choice left rs. Our religion has
but by our adversaries. Willing or not
willing we must make up our minds
whether we will fight for our faith, or suffer
what we hold most dear and sacred to be
kicked and dragged through the mire OF
SANDER and insult. There may be doubt
but about the necessity of making some
defense there can be no dispute.
We have already pointed out in the Ca
tholic Universe various instances in the
West in which political parties have placed
themselves in decided antagonism to Cath
ole interests, aud our people have taught
them in the defeat of the late Constitution
one good lesson which will be long remem-
bered. We have traced also a decidedly
anti-Catholic purpose in the education
schemes of powerful faction of the ruling
party at Washington. We now draw at
tention to two conspicuous manifestations
of Protestant hostility which seem to call
for a prompt and decided rebuke. The
October Bulletin of the Catholic Union of
New York has just published an exposure
Of the manner in which Catholic children
are treated at the House of Refuge. Child
rem, taken up as Migrants, or convicted OF
criminal offenses, are committed to that in
stitution by police magistrates for the term
of their minority, and the managers are re
quired d" to cause them to be instructed in
such branches of useful knowledge as shall
be suitable for their years and capacities"
There is nothing said either in the charter
of the institution or the laws of the State
about imparting religious instruction, that
being left entirely to the discretion of the
officers. The number of children is about
seven hundred, and according to the testi-
mony of the managers, most of them are of
Irish parentage. Now, what is taught
them The managers started on the theory
that the course of instruction should be
" non sectarian," but they appoint Meth
odist chaplain, and compile for his use
=" Manual of Devotion" selected from the
Protestant Episcopal Prayerbook. A great
majority of the children are of Catholic
birth, but Catholic instruction is strictly
forbidden them. The Sisters of Charity
some years ago asked leave to give separate
teaching to the Catholic children in the
House, but the managers answered:
"Under our general rule, we could not
allow denominational teaching" By the
same rule Catholic priests were excluded,
though the Methodist chaplain told them
they might "come sometimes and speak
from the desk, but they must not administer
their sacramento" Sacramento of any kind
are prohibited. eve have been requested"
saws the chaplain, "to allow the sacrament
of Baptism and the Lords Supper 20 be adj
ministeIed, but we have refused" "No
Catholic instruction is given in this institu-
tion," says the President Of the Board of
Managers, "mor can any be g:Uen there ="
Against this gross outrage upon their faith,
| the Catholics of New York have appealed
to the Legislature, but in vain. Their
| children are still committed by magistrates
to Reformatory whore, if dying, priest
cannot visit them, or wfTife Irving speak to
| them of their religion.
The House of Refuge does not stand
alone. Of the penal institutions of the
State of New York, only four (including
the Catholic Protectory) allow mass to be
said for the inmates. The three State
Prisons, four of the seven penitentiaries,
and three of the four reformatories, exclude
the priest or render admission so difficult
| that it amounts to exclusion.
| Criminals, who are most in need of the
restraints and consultations of religion, are
the very class which a vicious Protestant
system of administration deprives of reli-
| gion. In effect, the authorities take the
most unfortunate of our people by the col
lar, throw them into jail, and there by
| force make them either ProtesIants or in
fdels.
Aud now in the face of these facts we are
| asked whether it is prudent to mingie our
religion with politics Why 1t is the glory
| OF our Ialtn LnaC IL 1u6CIS every dCG Oi OUT
| iives-that' it il the rule by which we
measure not only our duty to God and our
families bat our duty to the State. Where
| our faith is touched, he it but in the
| smallest degree, all secular considerations,
| such as finance, State rights, "third term"
sink into insgnificance. On the question
of religion we are neither Democrats nor
Republicans; we are simply Catholics.
When the law is used to deprive the mean
est of our people of the free enjoyment of
his religion, or to destroy under whatever
preteuse the faith of our children, every
man of us ought to be up in arms. There
should go up from the great Catholic public
a loud demand for the repeal of unjust Sec
tartan laws, and the reform of such oppres-
sive sectarian practices as those carried on
in prisons and ormRtories. AS Catholics,
we should belong to no political party, but
unyieldingly demand from both parties
equal rights with our Protestant fellow
citizens.
Until we lay aside party politics, and
frrT1 hot IN