The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-26
THE CINCINNATI PASTORAL.
Letter From Bishop Chatard Defending
and Explaining 1t.
OF the New York Herald

To the Editor OF the New York Hersld
The Cincinnati PASTORAL has called forth
great amount of criticism, not a little of
which. | do not doubt, comes from honest
love OF country, but, at the same time, from
want of thorough understanding of what is
criticised. What is intended to be crush
ing caricature, not destitute Of artistic merit
adorned the pages of Puck on April II
The animus of this cartoon is of piece with
the criticisms. Both sound q note OF warn
ing of danger TO the country. The Pope has
the Bishops in chains; they are doing his
bidding: only look at them trampling on
the Declaration of Independence. Strange
as it may sound, !, for one, am far from
sorry that the artists slightly maleYOlent
fancy took that direction, L am glad the
Bishops are under the control of the Pope
in this matter, and so thoroughly as he i'm
plies. In it | see the safety of the country
and here is the reason why-because the
Pope has said, in most official utteTance
for the whole world. that the Repub-
lican form of Government of the United
States is a Just form of Government, and no
kingly power nor mob power has right to
overthrow it. Our form of Government is a
Just inheritance from our forefathers, and
we intend to keep it, and as far as in us lies
make all sustain it. This the Bishops in
concert with the Pope declare, when they
make his words their own, quoting from his
encyclical of June %, 1881. In speaking of
authority he lays down the Scri plural
idea that ali authority comes from
God, and. with regard to this, we call atten-
ton to the consequence of teaching that au-
thOrity belongs to the people. Disobedience
to the people would not be sinful, as sin is
violation of Gods law only. Therefore, all
laws would be but penal; there would be no
obligation OF conscience to obey, and there
fore any one could violate them, provided
\.
delightful state Of things, and what door
would be opened to lawlessnessl AS things
are now the law breakers are in the minor
ity; with such teachings the case would be
reversed. The Pope and the Bishops teach
ing that authority comes from God put an
obligation of conscience on every citizen 10
observe the laws OF these United States.
But the Pope and the Bishops at Cincin-
natl go further. They say that they who
are to be set over the Republic may, in GER
tain cases, be chosen by the will and the
decision of the people without any opposi-
ton or repugnance to Catholic doctrine. By
this choice the ruler is designated, bnt the
rights OF the Government are not conferred
and power is not given, but IL Undetermined
by whom il is to be welded. There is no
question here of the forms OF
reason why the rule of one. or
several should not be approved by the
Church if OILY Is is just and tends toward
the common good. Accordingly, justice
being preserved. people are not forbidden to
provide themselves with that kind of Gov
eminent which is most suitable to their
genius or the institutions and customs of
their ancestors" We present these words
for the calm consideration of all men who
think. So far from the Catholic Church
seeking to injure our country, she
seeks to benefit it in every way
by declaring its form of government Just
one and commanding all Catholics to obey
il under pain of resisting the ordinance of
God. and therefore God Himself If there
be anything in the Declaration of Independ-
ence that goes against this doctrine then, il
seems to me, that Declaration is not as
| friendly to the welfare of our country as the
Catholic Church is. In the other points of