The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-28
REVOLT AGAINST EccLEs1AsrICIsM.

within the church. Its rules are as unaltera-
SLAMS, and the edicts of the Pope are as final
as a ukase from the Gear. In direct opposi-
ton to the undeniable spirit of progress of
the age, the Catholic Church continues in
che ruts worn deep before other
churches were conceived Of Stability is
commendable when stability is essen
Gal to the moral or spiritual condition
of men. But an infexible faith is one thing
and an infexible church polity quite another
There may have been a time when the aus
terity of the autocrat was necessary to en-
force religious observance upon an ignorant
mass of mankind and to hold barbaric rude
ness in check, until the influence of Christi
snity could accomplish its destined
purpose. 1t is hardly necessary to
since passed in civilized and enlightened
countries. With the advance of education
the rigidity of temporal rules must be re-
Taxed, and an enlightened conscience will
naturally take the place of written formulas.
Other churches have kept pace with the
progress of the age. They have been liberal
lied in form without in the least@acrificing
spirituality or influence for good. Rather,
they have increased their power for doing
good by attracting greater numbers, and
holding all by appealing to reason.
1t may be that the Church OF Rome
has not lost any appreciate number of ad-
herents in recent years through its severity
in constructing its rules and regulations,
but it has not progressed to that point where
it will hold its own and even gain on the
merits of its cause. If a doctrine or creed,
or faith is good it will commend itself to en-
lightened reason. If bad it will retrograde
sooner or later in spite OF all coercion. Ig-
norance and superstition may by force be
held to a certain kind of allegiance, but this
soon becomes irksome and finally intolera-
BILE as the mind is developed and the reason
ing faculties are strengthened. There are
countries where the doctrine of caste still
holds sway despite the higher education
that now prevails there. But it is not
strange, in view of the centuries that have
passed during which no one dreamed OF
questioning the wisdom and justice of such
an arrangement. But the time of unques-
tioning acceptance of this doctrine is gone.
There is scarcely country on
the globe, no matter how des-
potic, in which there is not now
a strong sentiment in favor of the equality
of man from the highest to humblest. Ire
land is heroically struggling to that end; the
students of Russia are awakening to their
natural rights; the French have already re-
allied their long-cherished Dreams even in
Italy the people are freer from tyranny than
for centuries past, and in Spain the eloquent
CASTELAR, has affected the very structure of
government. The people are alive to prog
ress, and organizations of all kinds relig-
ious and secular,~ must not fall behind
in the march. The people are
emancipated. The Pope may pro-
nounce anathema, the Car may
send into Punishment, but the progress of
freedom can not be effectually checked by
any such futile devices.
The latest instance of ecclesiastic tyranny
was exhibited by Bishop Wgger, who sum-
marily suppressed publication Just issued
by the Rev. Patrick Corrigan, pastor of
Catholic church at Hoboken. 1t appears
that this priest, contaminated by the spirit
of the age in which he lives, conceived the
idea that better plan of choosing bishops
could be devised, and in this pamphlet laid
bare his ideas. There was nothing in it
that could be called heretical. He was and
is constant in his adherence to the Catholic
faith as promulgated at Rome, and all that
larize the government of his church by bring
ing it in closer sympathy with the masses.
He proposed that the bishops, especially in
America, be chosen by the priests, instead
OF being appointed absolutely at Rome.
The idea was to thus enlist
healthier interest in church matters by
letting more participate in its functions
as am organized body. But 800 OF the 3 900
copies had been issued when it was brought to
the notice Of the bishop OF the diocese, and
the book was incontinently suppressed,
Father Corrigan seems disposed to submit
without murmur and to pocket his inuo-
cent ideas without so much as protest. 1t
IS humiliating to witness such abject serv-
harmful to the church? They need not
be adopted unless the powers
tnat be see fit. Is a Catholic