The New York herald., 1879-03-02

OF Christians. am Catholic and do not believe In
selfdeception Hence. finding that very many of the
statements in "Od Fashioned Christians" letter
have special relevancy to my church, think 1t
but just to point them out do this in all earnest
To such extent has the extraordinary con-
duct of many bishops and priests in this country
discouraged and disgusted me that were it not for
my firm conviction of the teachings of the Catholic
Church being the absolute truth in religion should
become nfdel. for believe there is no half way
between faith in the Catholic Church and nfdeity.
First let say that the self-denial and suffering
of the early missionaries have few imitators in the
present generation. and too often nowadays the
young priest may be openly heard exulting in the
wealth and numbers of the parish to which he has
succeeded. Never will you hear these young clergy
speak of the number of souls they have chance
of saving. To this degrading worldliness is added
sordidness of ambition ana petty jealousy difficult
to conceive without intimate knowledge. No lieu
tenant in the army is more anxious for his 'step''
than many of tho young assistants. and if by any
chance talented clergyman is adopted to the diocese
from another diocese or another country. the stir
among these young priests is the of edfyng.
Indignation meetings held by them. and the
thorties petitioned against the conner being
allowed to take precedence of them.
great source OF many of the troubles in the
Catholic Church in America is the fact that there is
no canon law in this country. The ordinary Of the
diocese is the law to his priests. An effort was
made-a feeble one, it is true-to remedy this at
the last Council Of Baltimore. Very little was
done in the way of granting rights privi-
leges to pastors assistants. The reason is
very plain. The Council consisted of the epis-
copate and their theoogians (who all expect to
become bishops) well the heads of the
Council did next to nothing may be surmised and
the regular orders have need of law,
their constitutions being their canons they did not
interest themselves in what did mediately
Germ them.
What the Council actually did in the matter of dis
cipline, we'll intentioned it may have been. has
almost absolutely failed of effect, and the "pre-
cepts," recommendations" "mandaments'
are daily violated by the secular priesthood.
Among these violations I may emphasize the
wearing of the Roman collar, the abstention from
visiting places where liquor is sold. the use of
pcnics and water excursions for the purpose
ing funds the charging for admission to the church
at smass, and SO on to the end of the chapter. 1t
needs but little exercise of memory the part OF
tens of thousands of Catholics to recall instances
where these "precepts have been treated if they
never existed.
between bishops and priests, which appealed to
Rome. the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation
of the Faith, which has dominion over all mission
ary countries, has created law that each bishop in
the United States shall appoint three four of the
most learned and holy pastors of his diocese before
whom all cases of disagreement may be brought.
This law takes away from bishops the power
they have hitherto held and frequently abused
OF changing about their priests at their whim or
pleasure. 1t is satisfactory many of the bishops
who do not like the odium of even having to
passive ineffective priests. Not is it regard.
by another class Of bishops, who look upon it with
alarm. entering wedge for system Of canon
law it obtains in other countries. They bit
terly opposed to it. and Bishop McQuade is now in
Rome trying to have it modified on their behalf
These constant disagreements lead naturally to the
question. What causes them? Why is there more
trouble in this country between bishops and priests
between priest and his brethren? They are
produced by the same cause that creates
troubles in everyday life-namely money; the
greed Of it, not the want of it. In no
other country in the world the priesthood
well of financially as they here. When the
Church is poor or oppressed it is pure; when
wealthy it presents many exceptions to purity
When riches readily acquired by almost every
priest and the field of pecuniary profit is full Of
golden prizes what wonder that the scramble for
livngs should present repulsive features. Incompe
tence and Ignorance hold grimy on to every venal
advantage gained. and the new comers clamor and
eaba for the places of the DID, Deccncy is shocked
the diatrbes with which further food of Mammon is
exactcd from the poorest congregations. Amid all
this greed. these everlasting squabblcs among the
priests and appeals for more money and still
tho laymen what is the chance for the souls of the
neglected thousands in almost every parish? am
not writing from hearsay but from painful obscrva
tion and there too painful incidents in tho
modern history of the Church in America to permit
Of my statements being seriously disputed.
CATHOLICUS