The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-07-19
Cardinal McCgoskey on Socialism.


Tt seems very probable that the steady
and persistent hostility which the Roman
Catholic Church has always manifested
towards secret societies may soon be made
10 subSeIve the cause of law and order in
this country to an extent that is now hardly
anticipated by the superficial observer
The Church has always set her face like
flint against all secret organizations of ev-
cry name and nature, from Free Masonry
down to the most insignificant aud harmless
of all its copies, no matter for what purpose
they are instituted. nor how humane and
beneficient the object Of their association.
Some of the Catholic priests have carried
this opposition so far as to deny a member
of a secret order a Christian burial, and
have repeatedly refused ia bury such in
consecrated ground, and for such action
they have been promisCuOuSly denounced
by nearly every Protestant denomination.
and especially by that class of blatant de-
Chalmers about liberty and equality with
whom liberty means license and freedom
signifies to do what evil You please. The
firm grip with " hich the Mother Church.
held back her excitable Irish communicates
from entering into the Fenian folly was
simply an act of mercy to them, and her
course in that respect will never be forgot
ten, but continue to receive the appreciation
of all order loving citizens. In this matter
this great denomination has always been
consistent and unrelenting, and. having
established a policy and marked out a
course OF cOnluct to be pursued by the
Church and by its members there has been
no deviation fIom the rule allowed, no
matter who was displeased by its enforce
ment or who was hurt by its practical ap-
plication.
The rule in regard to secret societies was
thought by most people to be too much
like the ProcruStean bed, and too rigidly
intieXible to be consistent with modern no.
tions of individual freedom Be this as il
may-and we do not stop here TO discuss
the motive that lies at the bottom of the
subject, nor to criticisc the ssliBEeuCy with
which the Church has ever enforced her
decree-it is sufficient for our present pur-
pose to note that in the course of human
events the Catholic clergy may have it in
their power to render a substantial service
IN maintaining the peace aud permanent
welfare OF the community. If Communism
is to raise its hydra head in this country
IN such manner as 30 defy the legally
constituted authorities, it will find the
Catholic Church its firm and unflinchinp
enemy, instead of a supporter and an ally
The recent uiterances of Cardinal NJ Clos
key, the highest authority of the Church
IN the United States, gives us the assurance
that such expectations are well founded.
The first public and official act of the Car
dlHal since his return from Rome is to ar
ray his Church openly on the side of law
and order and to rebuke in the most en-
phatic manner the Communistic tendencies
of the times. He solemnly warns his peo-
pie against the tide of rreligion. infideT-
". socialism and revolutionism that has
begun to undermine not only the founda-
tIons of civi, government bat Of society it
self, and threatens us with still greater
calamities,' and he is aware of the fact
that mischief ''is brewing from the elements
of Communism and revolutiOnism even on
TINS side of the Atlantic" Similar action
has already been taken by some Of the
clergy in this respect in the East and West,
aud. now that the prince of the Church has
spoken, we may look for united and ener-
getIc action in favor of good ORDER CID
cagO Times.