The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-22
Confscation In America.

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full development throughout the world
demand the use and control of an immense
amount of property as absolutely essential.
A glance at the extent of its possession in
this city alone will give some idea of its
wants in this respect, although they are
still far from adequately supplied here. The
open air is frequently not adapted to meet
the requirements of place wherein
| to worship God with fitting decorum, to
conduct the literary and scientific studies
of large bodies of students, to care for nd
nurse the sick or to rear and protect a
number of orphaned children. Yet if you
furnish buildings for all this, they consti-
tute property and form an object of tempt
ing attraction for the eye of lawless avar-
ice to rest upon.
Monarchies have not hitherto proved to
be strongly enough organized to resist the
temptation to plumber, SO aluringly pre-
scented in such IL case. Without perhaps a
single exception, in every monarchy of
CHI istendom the hand of Power has, soon
er or later, stretched forth and plucked
the fruit of Church property forbidden to
IL ~ S'SiS ia" VA JuoeiSS, houoi anu 1911
gion. Excuses are never wanting. For
purposes best known to itself the PrcsJy-
terrain newspaper of this city ventiates
few of those excuses in a communication
published in its last number and partially
copied by us as follows;
THE FUTURE OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
PROPERTY.
has hpnr the poIicv IF tba Roman r,,I,o
lie Church i'll every country, to accumulate
vast possessions of real estate. The avarice
of the priesthood has had no bounds. 1t has
system of revenue most perfect in all its de- |
tails. So comprehensive as to embrace the |
very smallest sums up to the largest amounts
and to reach the poorest as well the most |
wealthy it is applied with ceaseless energy, |
and crowned With immense success. The re- |
suit has been the accumula tion of vast prop |
critics in every country. Its churches, hospitals
schools, asylums, monasteries, converts and |
cemeteries cover very large percentage Oft the |
most valuable land in many a city and town |
Nor this alone, for there is much real estate
from which large revenues are derived. The
extont to which this has been carried is almost
incredible. We see the same process going on
in our country and with the same success as in
OF her countries.
1t is an interesting fact that most, if not all,
of the governments under which these aeon.
have gone on have, at some period,
laid their hands on these properties of the
Church aud appropriated them to State uses.
But .he Roman Catholic Church never learns
any from it's past misfortunes AS confident
as ever, it continues to pursue the same course
and we feel sure, with the same results.
1t has been said that confscation of church
property is not likely ever to occur under
Republican government. We SEQ the contrary
of this in Mexico. If the prevailing sentiment
of the people of the United States should be-
come very powerful i'll its opposition to such
of property, and they should
come to regard them as dangerous to the public
peace and safety, what constitutions or laws
could protect them from seizure and appropri-
alton to the public benefit Let it be remem-
bered that the considerations referred to have
been done by people at least nomin ally Roman
Catholic, and in countries under the almost
exclusive influence of the Roman Church: how
would it DO in countries where the mass Of the
were opposed to that church, Nor
s it impossible that this very government NAV
upreme whose avarice or necessities shall
know no restraints! Is this useless specula-
ionf Let it comfort those who are looking
n this massing of property in eccesiastica1 {
What has been is likely to be again. The flu
ure may seem distant, but in the Lords ad 6
Illustration of human affairs time is often but 6
small factor. With Him Zone day ia no
thousand years and thousand years is as
ne day"
So the priesthood is accused of avarice. I
lot shadow of proof, indeed, is adduced +
D sustain such serious charge. But
that of that the accusation is all that is
'anted. To be sure it is, in this instance. +
cry frivolous on its face. Nearly all priests :
lie in almost absolute poverty. While o
hey live, tho property which they hold is !
evoted to objects, not only foreign to i
leir own personal enjoyment, but gener- 6
lily forming sources of perpetual trouble l
nd labor to themselves. Their UNIVERSE s
es have always numbered among their {
hief traits of excellence the fact that thew .
ere open to ali corners, absolutely free
r beyond comparison cheaper than those =
by secular powers. Their :
sylums and hospitals arc entirely devoted
} the use of others and are maintained at
heavy expense. They in reality merely v
minister for the benefit of the unfortu- h
ate or for the more honorable worship of II
cd, the property which they seem to own. I
ct the priesthood is avaricious
Again they have a complete system of c
ollecting revenue. True enough What
roT ia worth DOING ia worth .Jo;,~ ali 81