The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-24
CATHOLICS AND LIQUOR,
Exactly What Was Done and What Was Not
Done-A Calm Review of the Subject.
Baltimore 10 New Sun


Done-A Calm Review of the Subject.
Baltimore Letter in New York Sun.
After all the agitation which has appeared in
the press concerning the action of the third
plenary council in this city, last year, regard
ing the liquor question few correct particulars
Oh the subject may not be out of place. 1t may
be stated here that there is no decree upon the
talk about the alleged decisive action of the
council There was, however, strong move
made by some of the prelateS-notabiy Bishops
Ireland, Spalding and Keane, the temperance
agitators-to have such decree passed, but it
was just as vigorously opposed by the German
bishops. The final conclusion was that the con-
sentative position ever maintained by the church
in all countries was best. No decree was ncor-
porated on the subject, because a specification
on this subject would lead to an endless variety
on others, and it was finally merged in that
chapter of a title which looks to the general en-
forcement of good morals.
The pastoral letter which every council of the
church, whether ecumenical world wide) pie
nary (national), or provincial Ia body assembled
from within certain limits marked out in ma
tlon), issues, as a matter OF course, is freer In
scope, and substantially sermon composed by
the assemblage for the benefit of the people,
While it mas, to the Catholic mind, great and
commanding authority, it Is not so rigid as the
DEGREES, just as the deeress of provincial and
plenary council have not the full force of alb
solule demand on faith of general council
whose DEGREES approved by the Pope These
last are matters of faith, the second border upon
them, and the first border upon the second.
1t was in the pastoral letter that the voice of
the church raised against liquor selling. AL
though this letter appeared over the signature of
Arch bishop Gibbons. it, of course, was sub
mitted in rough form to the council. Every
thing was smooth until the clause on liquor sell
ing was reached. How it reads, as decorously
set forth to the world all know. 1t has been re-
r,riD ted a huD0Pad times Chairman
at once objected. They protested against its
urgency of Sunday closing, its exhortation of
liquor sellers to quit their business and seek a
more becoming way of making living, and its
high approval of Catholic temperance societies
whose aims were known to be extreme. There
was quite hot and fierce debate on these
points. The temperance bishops urged the
melancholy fact that prevalent drunkenness and
the disgrace brought upon the very name of
Catholic by the undeniable certainty that the
majority of saloons in cities were kept by those
who were Catholics, at least in name. Bishop
Keane, of Richmond, was especially eloquent
on the subject. He blazed out in these fiery
words: when l enter town and see above
the doors of these gates of hell the names of
Irish Catholics, or of German Catholics, hang
my head in shame" Bishop Spalding said: "To
be poor is not an evil; to be poor to be industri
Gus. to be sober, is good which the rich seldom
realize Look at this poor sober industrious hard
working, happy man. Great God this is not an
pose he is a drunkard. The rich man gets drunk,
and six policemen help him into carriage, and
tenderly take him home The poor man gets
drunk; he is carried to the station-h house; he is
locked up all night; his name appears upon the
slate and in the papers the next merning. He
is disgraced n Yes we are fighting for
the workingman in this struggle against rum
But the German bishops remained obstinate.
They fought against the Sunday clause and the
exhortation to quit the business. until they were
| finally overruled
This little inner history sufices to show the
various elements which the church has to har-
monize The conclusion was to draft the pas
sage as to afford as little oifense as possible
while the true tendency of the church was shown
toward temperance. Those Catholics at present
engaged in the business will not be compelled to
abandon it unless they can find some more honor
able way of making living; but their pastors
will urge them to raise their children to be
adapted to other occupations. Such Catholics as
are in the business are urged to observe the law
of the land the principal feature of which is
Sunday closing. That is about the amount OF
the plenary councils actions on the liquor ques
ton.