Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-01-24
"LIBERTAs" VS.. "NON-CATH.
OLIC."
a University Student Replies to
the Criticism of "Non-Catho-
lie %

/
Correspondents OF tho REGISTER.
hoaGAsrowS, January 81.
There appeared in your issue OF the
l1th an article purporting to be written
by a "Non-Catholic," bat bearing upon
It's faee the unmistskable signs Of CatiI-
olie Ignorance and narrow-mindedness.
The author OF the effusion OF mental
brllliancy kindly eonsisns Ia The sdark
depths OF ignorance Senior OF the
University. And for what? For the
statement. no, ''that freedom Of con-
science, freedom Of thought and speech
and freedom Of property are antagonistic
to Catholicism" but that the tenets OF
the Roman Catholic Church are essen-
TALLY opposed tn freedom Of conscience
aud thought and security OF the tights
OF property, and are therefore antago-
nistic 10 the basal elements OF our gov
ernment, which guarantees these rights.
That little learning is dangerous
thing" is clearly shown by his unre
served denial OF these facis. And in
order to enlighten the gentleman on the
subject, Il Is only necessary tn state a.
he must know that the Pope has been
declared BY the Vatican Council Ia he
infaHibts, and therefore his edicts are the
laws of the Church and must be- Obeyed
as the direct commands Of God.
In 1894 an eneyclical letter was pub
lished by the late Pope Plus IN, with
the following as its 18th article: "Ths
RindH CdihOIic reiigiOa shOI,hi h. he OHiy
rsiigiOn Of he Siats, and all Oihsr religions
should H. ScciUiod" This was declared
and commanded BY the Pope aud
Is therefore necessary doctrine
Oi the church. And does il recognize
freedom Of conscience, or is it not Iii
rectly positively subyersive OF il? Again,
as 10 freedom Of thought, which includes
education, OF course, We quote the 7Ith
article Of the same letter Public
schools open % all children, tor the edu-
cation of the young, should be under
the control of the Romish Church, and
should not be subject to civil power nor
made 10 contorm 10 the opinions of the
aye" Is not freedom Of thoughts de-
nied in this, ami does It not show an
Oyerweening care for the ignorance Of the
members OF this church? since it is 81
we'll known that in most Of
their ON a schools they learn nothing but
ave Marias" and "CathOlic hymns"
which is the testimony OF gentleman
Of culture Of our immediate RCquaint-
anee, who was, for seventeen years OF
his early youth. bound by the rude
shackles OF Romish bigotry and ignor-
ance. Or else why this careP Why the
numerous edicts of priests prohibiting
Catholic children from attending any
schools but those Of their own church?
Why was child IN Massachusetts, whip
ped on his bare back for attending a free
public school, and the punishment in
tlicted by Catholic priest2 And with
regard to property. Why is it that the
city Of New York has contributed more
than hall q million dollars an
nually for the support Of the Cath
Olic Church, fleeing taxpayers in
order to sustain principles which they
recognize as vicious in all their tenden-
cies, il the rights Of property are re-
garded and respeCtedr
That the perpetuity Ot this church lie
pends upon the ignorance OF its mem
bers Is fact, as We have shown; and
that the power Of this church is un the
increase in America is TACT, as It's rolls I,
Of membership and acquisitions will
show. But does il stand the test oi logic |
as the gentleman would have It, that be- |
cause this church prOspers, the ignor- |
ance oi the people must increase? BY |
no means Are We to judge OF the total !
increase or decrease Of intelligence in
the whole mass OF the people by that OF
the small proportion OF 5,OOO,0OO ia
an aggregate Of 4S,0OO,OOO? !
The Catholic Church may increase
in numbers and power by recruiting
It's ranks from our great mass OF still |
ignorant people, and by foreign acquis.
ltion, and still more than lO,OOO,WO !
make an increase and advance ia IN.
lelligence, corresponding to our boasrcd !
and actual progress.
Let the gentleman open hls eyes u |
A broader held Of vision ani study the
iacts. From his logic and Argument
We are compelled Ia believe thai lac too |
has not recovered from the narrowing |
effects oi his early Catholic training
LIBERTAs.