Arizona citizen., 1875-06-19
PRIESTS AGAINST CIVIL LAW.
Are the Mandates from Rome Su- preme over the Laws of the United States?

named Father McGlew, charging him with islander, and asking for damages in the sum of 5000. The words complained Of are that Father McGlew stated publicly in church as follows:
 "There have been parties that have gone and got married in mortal sin. will call their names to you-Robert c. Tanning, jr., and Catharine Murphy" and after calling sundry other names, the defen- dant said; "These parties must come be- fore the altar and give public satisfaction;" that on the 23d of November, in church. the defendant publicly, falsely and mali ciously accused the plaintiff of the crime of fornication by words spoken of the plaintiff substantially as follows:-" John Tanning or Robert, or whatever his name is, has gone to live with that woman, is living in sin and l will call their names every Sunday until they come before the altar and give public satisfaction. These parties will be coming to me by and by with their bastards for me to christen."
 We ask our readers to seriously reflect for one moment upon the magnitude of the crime this priest has committed. The
 
 United States declare marriages by the civil authorities legal and right, and the offspring of such marriages are legitimate. This foreign priest, under instructions from Rome, declares practically from the pulpit that these laws are a cheat, a delu- sion and fraud, and that the men and women who have complied strictly with the laws of the country are adulterers and their offspring are bastards. These high handed acts are being done before our eyes every day in the week. The govern ment and it's laws are being outraged and the poor people persecuted and abused by 8 class of people who claim and receive the protection of our laws, but who never had thought of sympathy with republl- can or free government. The same men would have rejoiced to have seen the Re- public of Mexico broken into a thousand pieces and French monarchy establish ed in its stead.
 The fee allowed civil officers in this Ter ritOry for performing the marriage cere- mony is s. The priests who declare our laws a farce and delusion and denounce those married in accordance herewith, as adulterers, charge such eXtOrtionate prices for performing the marriage ceremony, that a large number of the poor cannot pay 1t and are compelled to live in so call ad adultery, while others often pay exor- bitant rates of interest for money to pay these extortiOnate demands, and then work months and some times years to get out of debt. The eXtortions of the priests became so oppressive in Mexico that the government passed a law giving to the civ Il authorities only, the right to perform the marriage ceremony. So severe a remedy Is not needed here, for thank God and our free schools, we are not priest ridden yet, but we do think that ministers of the gos- pei should be restricted in their charges the same as civil officers. If the fee Of B is sufficient compensation for a judge or magistrate, it is sufficient for the priest
 A law to this end should be passed by the next legislature; it is a duty we owe to the poor people who have too long been imposed upon. We owe another duty to ourselves md to the government which protects us. Whenever d priest insults good men and women and derides their children for no crime save that of obeying our laws, they should be punished as other mortals are for similar crimes. It will not do for them 10 spit upon our laws and outrage common decency, and when arraigned for it crawl back into their shells and say, "Oh, don't touch the holy church." These things connot be done in this enlightened nineteenth century with impunity.
 We expect and shall exact of all creeds decent respect for the rights of others and obedience to the laws of the country So long as any creed keeps within these land marks, we will extend to all such the right hand Of friendship. but when any Overstep these bounds we will hold them accountable the same as other erring hu- man beings. No one has the infallible right to abuse and persecute their fellow men nor to disregard the laws under which they live.
 In speaking of the islander case herein referred to, the New York Herald edito- rlally says: "The proceedings in the sim gular islander case in a Boston court, in which Catholic priest Is sued for damag es for having denounced from the pulpit, hy name, a man and his wife who had been married by civil process by a duly authorized magistrate, is only another proof that there are ignorant ZealOts in all raIipiOus denominations Father James