The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-06
FenIans and the Irish World.

The Irish World has again been attract
ing attention to itself by its attacks upon
the Catholic clergy. The Irish World 10
violently Catholic. Oh, yes! 1t loves It's
Church; but somehow, when there is ques-
ton of Pope, Cardinal, Bishop or priest,
the Irish World has no use for them. In
the article referred to, of the 18th January
ult., the benevolent editor says: eve love
our Church." But he does not extend the
sentiment to the clergy. Hear him:
Why should this BET To-day Pope Adrian's
Bull giving Ireland over to England 10 denied
nv Irish priests. 1t is called " humping
English lie" A hundred years hence some
thiogs done by Rome now will also be denied.
How respectful! But, then, he does not
break with the clergy altogether. They
may redeem themselves yet, If they will
follow his advice. Thus:
1t rests with you, o Bishops of the Irish
racel to remedy the evil. Lift yourselves up
broad and generous view of the popular move
ment; DO rigid in the maintenance Of the faith
every iota of it-but, while you uphold and
to work out their own salvation in things
temporal. Then the people will. love you.
Then America will enter the fold. Then the
Church, having entered on q new era viii
perity, leading emanciPated nations in her
joyful train, and dispensing and receiving bless-
ings unnumberedi
Let the Bishops and clergy change their
policy and adopt Mr.. Ford's and MIR. Ford
will then recognize them as humble mem
bers of the Church which he Gloves" But
it all looks so fine that one would almost
suspect, if not assured to the contrary by
Mr.. Ford himself, that he was starting
new religion which was to be much more
successful affair than that known as
Christianity.
The gentleman has poor opinion of the
sincerity of Catholic controversialists. He
says:
But Catholic controversialists come forward
and say to Professionals: ooh you are under q
misappreheusion. 1t is only in things spiritual,
e" that we Catholics are under OBJ
legations to listen to the Pope. In things tenn
is the doctrine the Irish World teaches. This
is the doctrine which Catholic controversial
lists enunoiste when addressing the Protes-
tAnts of England and America why Is not
this same doctrine addressed to the Catholics
of Herzegovina and Ireland
This respectful allusion to their hon
esty includes, not only the clergy, but lay
controversialists, if such there be.
Then, as to the unselfishness of the
clergy
The opposition to the popular movement in
general and to the Irish movement in partiou-
lar. are traceable, mainly, to two things:
l. The desire of ecclesiastics for political
power, and,
p English influence at the Court of Rome.
How filial
Then comes a rap at the Pope, the
Bishops, jeff Davis and the Southern Con-
fsderacy all at once:
The Pope himself wrote gracious lie tier to
JEFF Davis, in which the rebel chief was ad-
dressed as "Most Honored President" But
we care nothing for these things. We are not
bound to believe that bishops or priests, or
even the Pope, are infalli BILE in American poll
tics. No one maintains this. Why, then, should
We be asked to regard them as infaliible in
Irish politicsf
| And all this to show that the moral
standing of "secret society" is question
of politics.
The antagouism between himself and the
clergy is well chrystalized in one phrase,
where, proposing to drop the name " Fe
MAN " for another, which in turn shall be
dropped az soon as the clergy catch up
with it, he adds:
In this way Irish revolutionists can keep
ahead of the Bishops.
Keep ahead of the Bishops! Fond son o.
the Church!
Then, pass at Rome:
Since then when ever rebellion lifted itl
head on Irish soil, Rome has been EuEland's
ally iu.puttiug it down.
Here the editors tendencies towards
unity become irrepress,b'e. 30 to speak.
AS for the special attacks upon individ ia
dignitaries, such as Archbishop Wood, o.
Philadelphia, Monsiguor Capel aud Bishop
Dupanioup, virulent as some Of them are
we cannot wonder at them when we re-
member that their author loves such shining
marks for his shafts "a Cardinal Cullen
Cardinal Manning and Cardinal McCloskey
; And what is the occasion of the outbreak
A recent allusion of Archbishop Wood tx
Fenianism. Hereupon the Irish Worlc
comes back at him with six columns of sucl
= sentiments as those selected above. Thu