The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-08
THE CATHOLICS OF AUSTRALIA.
A Letter Of Greeting and Congratulation to
Their Brethren in the United States.

BALTIMORE, Feb 7-Archbishop Gibbons has
received circular letter from the archbishops
and bishops of Australia, addressed to the arch.
bishops and bishops of the United States,
saying:
''The archbishops and bishops of the church
Of Australia avail themselves of the occasion
of their being assembled for the holding of their
first plenary council to send their congratula-
tions to the illustrious episcopal of
the United States. The youngest daughter
of the church cannot allow this
communicating her gladness to her elder sister.
OF all the national churches in communion with
the Holy See, there is none to which the church
OF Australia bears so close resemblance as
that of the United States. The children of both
churches are the offspring of the same races.
They speak a common language. Their laws,
customs and manners are akin. They are spread
over regions of vast extent, abound
ing in every form Of material prosperity,
the full development of whose unlimited re-
sources must raise both peoples to the foremost
place among the nations of the earth. The dem
sity Of the population widely differs, but their
amount of territory is nearly the same In both
countries the foundations of the faith were laid
amid many and grave difficulties. The causes
from which serious dangers to the faith have
sprung, and may continue to spring for some
time longer, were common to both. The faithful
Of both countries have had to contend
against an Catholic tradition in literature in
political and social life, against deeps seated
prejudices, sometimes breaking out into open
violence against systems of education, against
governments which, if not hostile, give but little
encouragement to the spread of our holy faith.
Our children were not amongst the most IA
vored, the wealthiest, or the most learned of the
land, yet both have laid the foundations of the
faith deep and solid. AS in America. SO
here in Australia, the grain of mustard
seed, planted in grateful soil, has grown
You will rejoice to learn that our plenary coun-
Gil, in the labors of which we are now engaged,
request the Holy See to enrich our church with
three new metropolitan Sees with six new suf-
fragan sees, with four additional bishops, some
vicars-apostolic for the native races, aid with q
national seminary. which will be means of de-
veloping the manifest virtues of our native soil.
The success of our colleges, now happily crowned
By our national university, is a matter of deep
interest to us, and WILL we trust encourage our
people to second our efforts in initiating your
noble example. May the DEGREES of your great
council, among the first in the history of the
church for its numbers and the extent of
it's territory and for the importance Of
its deliberations, be fruitful in count
less blessings for the extirpation of
error, for the diffusion of truth, for the happiness
of your hocks. for the salvation of souls, by Civ
ing increased energy to apostolic zeal, greater
uniformity to discipline and more extended
sphere to the normal action of the church. We
beg to remain your most loving and de-
voted brothers in Christ.
PATRICK F. CARD MORAN
Archbishop Of Sydney Apostolic Delegate,
"And seventeen othersn