The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-15
THE PAPAL LETTER

/ Not Aimed at ParneII, but Issued in the
Interest of Church Discipline.
Rone Letter to New York Herald
This evening l had private audience with
Cardinal Simeoni, Project of the Propaganda
! at his residence in the Propaganda palace.
The Cardinal. who during the day, had had
an Interview with the Pope, received me
/ with even more than his wonted affability,
and favored me with long interview, in
the course OF which the Irish question was
considered from every possible Catholic point
of view.
| In answer to categorical questions, which
need not quote, the Cardinal who
had first obtained the approval of the Pope
for doing SO, made the following frank, full
sud important statement:
a'To begin with, the letter to the Irish
! bishops had no political aim or purpose.
i Into political questions the Holy Father has
himself said, and the Osservatore Romano
| has since repeated, he cannot and does not
/ enter
THE letter was disciplinary, and written
! in the interests of morality and discipline
/ only. 1t could matter nothing, or very little,
4 to the Holy Father whether Mr. Parnell re-
peiTed testimonial of ten Thousand or
| hundred thousand or a million lire. Mr..
Parneli was personally not in the mind of
the Holy Father or the Propaganda when
| the letter was issued; but behind Mr. Parnell
+ and sheltered under the prestige of his name
are many agitators Irish and American.
4 whose conduct is immoral and revolution
4 airy, tending to SOW dissension between ma
/ tons and to create a breach between priests
and people,
This very morning. continued Cardinal
SiIneoni "'the Holy Father said to me: The
4 Irish have always been led by the priests,
81, ~.
/ people will always be united in Ireland
| Moreover" continued the Cardinal, 'the
4 Holy Father said 10 me, and appeared graft
/ fled by the fact The agitation in Ireland is
4 surely subsiding. The letter OF the Propa-
ganda is being implicitly obeyed, both by
\ the bishops and the people. l should will
/ dinghy see a cessation of angry discussion
with all who suffer as the Irish suffer-
The Holy Father warmly expressed his
/ best wishes for Ireland and said to me: 4
feel now and shall ever continue to feel the
deepest sym Fathy with the Irish people, and
especially with the Irish tenants, and SO long
as the Irish any nationality take moral
means. such as the law permits. of advanc-
\ ing their patriotic cause | should never for
moment think it necessary to Interfere"
! The Cardinal continued: The propa
| ganda's letter was not even intended as a re-
buke or reproach to the bishops 1t was
supply issued as fatherly warning, showing
them into what pitfalls they might be led by
| some who, under cover of testimonial sub
| scription, seemed to be fostering possibly
4 murder but certainly unlawful agitation,
4 and interfering with individual liberty.
1 Yes, interfering with liberty, for as lately
4 remarked ia conversation with Archbishop
/ Croke whom we have not rebuked in the
\ letter of the propaganda any more than the
rest of the bishops: You said, Monsignore,
\ in a recent address something to this effect:
I ',Giye to this fund, and by the measure of
I your liberality snail your patriotism be
/ judged" BY acting in this way undue
4 pressure is brought to bear upon individ-
uals.
PRIEsTs IN POLITICS.
1.-THE discussion created by the letter of
the Propaganda" continued the Cardinal,
did not forbid agitation at public meetings
nor forbid the priests from attending and
voting at meetings SO long as they made no
violent speeches, but used their influence to
calm the angry passions which rage at such
gatherings. Theyare not forbidden by the
Propaganda nor does the Holy Father for
bid them to attend meetings. The question
is far broader, higher and simpler than has
been stated. With persons and politics the
Holy Father has nothing to do. But il was
his duty to show the way of true morality to
those who were in danger of forsaking it.
The letter of the Propaganda epplies to all
Catholics, irrespective OF nationality. IL
may be studied by Americans. Australians
and Irish with equal profit.
~ may add that the Holy Father said to
mex In the matter Of the letter of the Prop
Uganda it would be well 70 make it clear to