Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-20
The Pope's Position.

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difficulties with France, Germany and
Ireland. With the French the trouble
has been coming on for some time
with the Germans it has been chronic
with the Irish it is recent. The Kut-
turkampf between Bismark and the
Pope needs no new remarks. The
French Radicals are driving the Ferry
Government into a corner where an
opon rupture with the Papacy must
ensue. When the events of the past
five or six years are taken into account,
there is no cause for wonder that the
Roman pom tiff abhors French Republi-
cans. Instead of lending him an army
as France was won't to do, instead Of up
holding him in every plight. instead OF
winding Church and State together in
one compact ball-the Republicans
have plannedan absolute severance oil
Church from State. they haveencroach.
ed on the domain of priestly education,
they have closed converts and dispersed
religious orders, they have even cut
off the salaries of the high prelates.
Pope Leo has, therefore, from his point
of view, reason to look upon the Repub-
lie as an erring son.
His relations with Ireland, on the
other hand, have always until recently
been most harmonious. Save in the
northern districts, the island Is pro-
foundly Roman Catholic. There has
never been any attempt there, on the
part of religious radicals, to dispute the
authority of the Vatican. The Irish
have been systematically under the
sway of the priests. Although gov
erned by Protestant England, Pro-
testantism has made no headway; in
fact, because their conquerors profess
another religion, hatred has been
planted for that religion in Hibernian
breasts since the days of Cromwell.
The Irish have clung to Romanism
with a mingling of religious and politi-
cal fervor which has justified the world
in believing them to be the most
otedient subjects Of the Pope. That
Ireland, the stronghold of the Papacy,
should suddenly rebel, presents novel
and unforeseen spectacle. The cause of
this sudden rupture was the letter ad-
dressed by Pope Leo to the Irish
bishops, in which he advised the clergy
against abetting directly or indirectly
the political agitation. The Irish have
resented this interference with their poll
tics on the part of the pontiff. Their
almost unanimous verdict has been that
they will accept their theology but not
their politics from Rome If this reso.
luton be energetically acted upon, it is
easy to see that a new and powerful
agent will be introduced into the Irish
Question. No one who knows Leo
KILLS character, or who is familiar
with the tenacity of the Vatican, can
believe that the Pope will be contented
with mere admonition. If he is dis
obeyed, he will bring forward the mon-
strous spiritual engine which is at his
command to enforce obedience. And
with the Pope and the English against
them we may well shake our heads and
ask, What chance would the Parnellites
have? There can be no doubt but
that the priests have been powerful
agents in the agitation up to this time;
unless the present tension is loosened,
they must soon choose between patriot
ism and religious obedience. Accord,
ing to the doctrine of their Church their
head is infallible, and obedience to him
is obligatory. Heretofore, they have
never questioned his right to dictate a
policy to them. At this very moment
the Pope's agents are conducting politi-
cal intrigues in every nation in Europe
Can the Irish priests say with any con-
slstency that Leo is justified in ordering
the German clergy to foment political
agitation against Prussia, and that he
is not justified in forbidding political
agitation in Ireland? In other words,
Papal infallibiity is twO-edged sword
which is found to be very dangerous
weapon when turned against members
of the papal fold. The solution of the
trouble. the only logical solution in ac-
cord with progress and enlightenment,
is the complete separation ofChurch and
State In all countries. For thousand
years it has been the policy of the Vati'
can to mix in political intrigues it will
take long time to overcome habit OF
such astanding. pittsburgh Workman.
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