The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-23
IRELAND AND THE CHURCH
An Interesting Lecture by Father Lambert,
at st. PatricI1's Church.

Father Lambert closed his services at st. Pat
ricks Church, last evenings with lecture on
ireland and the church." and left this morning
for Louisville whence, after brief stay he will
go TO St. Louis and thence to Omaha. He gave
the origin and cause of the Irish troubles as they
began in the reign of Henry IL, and traced them
briefly and graphically to the present day,
showing how England has treated that unhappy
country, aud giving the reason of Butain's
cruel policy. He showed how Ireland had borne
this oppression for over 700 years, and the spas
modic efforts she had made from time to time to
free herself from the CALLING yoke. He showed
how the Land League started and how 1t had
struck the right note, though it had not been
always free from dsseusi ms and faults. He ex-
amtned into the principles and reasoning
the of ireland was almost
hopeless, anv means and any weapons should
be made nse of against England aud showed
them to be fallaciou5 and wicked. That Ireland
in her struggle for freedom and for political
rights should cut loose from the CHURCH because
the movement is purely political one he also
land remained faithful to the Catholic Church
she would never accomplish her desire. He said
that Ireland's suferings and prosecutions have
been because Of her faith, and that had she not
been Catholic country she would not have been
ground under England's iron heel Ireland has
always been Catholic nation. All her history,
all her memories, the deeds of oil her heroes,
the songs of her poets are interviewer with the
church. Il today, after hundreds OF years Of
martyrdom she were TO give up her faith for her
freedom she should have done so long ago. The
church loves Ireland as her child, daughter
that has never as nation had to
church legislates for her as Cor a
catholic nation, embOdying church laws and
political laws On the other hand the church
never admits revolution, resistance to lawful
authority. But she teaches and says that Ire
land at any time can, by fair means, by legisla-
pared without OATH free herself, if sound
reason and political prospects warrant the en-
deavOr She condemns any effort merely cal
culated to mjure human life or property that
has direct result for the benefit OF Ireland
The late action of the Pope means that If the
Land League will declare openly that 1t has
nothing to do with the recent political murders
openly and avowedly for the cause of Irish
liberty. As it Is, her sympathies are all with
her struggling children but she cannot clasp
hands with cause that has any suspicion OF
murder connected with it. No priest,
no bishop, however, Is restrained from
working in the Land League cause and for col
lecUing money therefor outside of the church.
Priests and bishops are members of the league.
AS 1 travel about l see tine certificate of neIn-
bership in the league in every priests house.
We look uDOn the struggle in Ireland as fight
for the faith, and that the murders, that we of
course cannot sanction, but bitterly deprecate
and denounce, have been TO the detrlment OF
the league and the good cause. And -he issue
will be, either Ireland will listen to the church,
suggest, backed and helped by every priest and
every bishop, the Pope included, or she will
have to struggle alone with England on mere
political grounds.