The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-04
PASTORAL LETTER.

met in Cincinnati on Wednesday, prepared
lengthy pastoral letter to be read in al
the churches. The letter has sufficient
general interest to justify the publication
of the following synopsis;
1t begins with review of the progres:
of religion since the last council, twent,
years ago, and congratulates the church or
the transition from the mission epoch to 8
condition of fixity. It then goes on te
speak of the necessity of obedience to au
thority; holds that all men are not equal
and that men ordained to rule as kings
magistrates, bishops, and priests have
rights which subjects do not possess. Il
laments the disposition to try God before 6
court of human reason, and says no man
has right to teach a falsehood or to
change jot or title of the law of God. Il
is very outspoken on the subject of labor
unions 1t says mans labor is his own
as much as the gold of the rich man, and
he has right to sell it as he pleases, at 9
fair price, and so long as men accede te
others the same freedom they claim foi
themselves there is no sin in labor banding
together for self projections; but labor un.
ions are liable to fail and cannot be sus
tanned When they attempt TO force a
man to join union. or to work for price
fixed by a union, Catholics cannot be a
partner in any attempt to coerce Others
against their just rights, nor to do injury
to the person or property of others.
The letter condemns much of the mod
ern church music, and says the Gregorian
chant is the recognized form. 1t directs
that all music that savors of the sensuous
and the profane, the theater or the opera,
shall be excluded from choirs, as also all
music that attracts the attention of people
from the altar to the choir. Much is said
condemnatory of secret societies, especial
" such as have religious hierarchy or
form of liturgy
Reverting to the subject of authority the
letter says: at is not Catholic doctrine
that all power comes from the people, and
that rulers do not exercise authority as
their own, but as entrusted to them by
the people. The Catholic doctrines is that
the grant of power is not given by the
people, but they only designate who is to
WELD it.
AS to priests, people arc commanded to
seek the law from his lips, and in all mat
tiers of civil life appertaining to faith and
morals, the priest has the right to speak
and the people are required to listen. This
doctrine, it is said, may be unpopular with
modern liberalism, but that does not prove
it untrue.
On the bad papers the letter uses the
following words: "Of late there has been
started a class of papers that, under the
plea of patriotism, is advocating the worst
forms of revolution and communism
Their editors pretend to be Catholic, but
with unbridled insolence assail priest or
bishop who differs from them Among
this class stands prominent the Irish World
This is bad paper, breeding insolence and
defiance of authority, teaching 'commun
ism, assailing the rights of property and
melting to rebellion, that can end but in
disaster We therefore direct pastors to
warn their people against this paper, and
rs far as in them lies, discourage its circu
ation among them. While, however, we
thus condemn as above enumerated, the
pernicious doctrines of the Irish World we
wish it distinctly understood that by so
doing we in no sense sympathize with
England in her oppression of Ireland, nor
10 we in any way favor a continuance of
The present unjust system of landlordism
IN Ireland. On the contrary, we
Are ready to cooperate with the
bishops of Ireland in any
legitimate effort to ameliorate the present.
condition of the Irish. We con-
Tenn the World for the illegitimate means
It advocates, but not its efforts to better
he condition of Ireland. Let the cause of
ireland be pressed, but let the means be
legitimate. Let the rights of the landlord
De recognized as well as the rights of the
enant, so that while Justice is done the
enant, justice may also be done to the
landlord. Thus the cause of Ireland will
commend itself to the honesty and sym
Dathy of the world.
On government it says: Not for 800
Years has society been SO restless as it is at
present. Religion is fast losing its influ-
nee on society. The state steadily seeks
o subordinate the spiritual to the tempo
al. A systematic and combined effort,
10Th in Europe and America, is being made
o secularize education, and to substitute
or God and religion, science and material
progress. 1t is claimed that all men are
rec and equal, and under that cry religion
md law are assailed."
Further along it uses this language:
With the popular doctrine that all men
re equal. there is also stead
" growing the doctrine that
All power is from the people, and that
hey who exercise it do SO not as their own,
Tut as intrusted to them by the people;
md upon this condition, that it may be re-
allied by the will of that same people by
shom it was confided to them This is
lot Catholic doctrine, nor is it the doctrine
# the Scriptures
On legislation against intemperance it |
peaks as follows: There can be no
oubt that intemperance, like. all social
wills, is a matter for legislation, as also the
buse in the sale of liquor. Prudent and I
Moderate legislation or these subjects is to
e commended, and should be encouraged |
nd sustained. Sunday should be made
aore sacred, and legislation encouraged
hat would hinder or lessen the sale Of
quor on that day. Could there be es-
ablished liquor truce that from Satur-
ay noon to Monday noon, men would
gree not to drink outside their own houses,
OF only would intemperance.be greatly di-
finished, but much of the Dissertation of
ne Sunday would be done away with
The letter touches on divorce, marriage,
nd schools, but takes no radical new
round ON fh GOO asIbiactc