Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-02-22
BISHOP FINK'SPASTORAL
He Condemns the Farmer Alliance and
Says That no Good Catholic Can, With
q Safe Coincidence, Become a Member
Under Its Constitution.
He Characterizes 1t as an Established Re
IigiOn Having no Need of Any Other
Saviour-1ts Chaplain and Ritual Not
Needed for Legitimate Purposes.

LRGyKNwoRTH, KAN, February 15.-Bishop
Fink, of this diocese, has Just issued a
Ienten pastoral, much of which Is devoted
to the present lamentable condition of the
farming community and gives Catholic
farmers advice with reference to the Farm
ers' Alliance.
The bishop reviews the constitution OF
the Farmers Alliance, and gives his opln-
ion that no Catholic can become memter
Of it under its constitut on. The reasons
assigned are that it tells the farmer, not In
so many words, but in reality: "You can
share in our benefits if you adopt the rellg-
ion which we have established; we have our
own chaplain, our own religious service,
our own rel Gus obse rvances, and have no
need of Jess Christ or HIS church. we
form farmers alliance; set up farmers
chaplain to preside over and direct our
farmers religion"
eff" saws the bishop. "the Farmers ALI
ance had confined itself to Its legitmate
purpose, to protect that worthy class OF cit
liens, to bring them together 10 take coun.
sell where was the need to constitute itself
a religious social society? Now, if it be
claimed that the Alliance is net antl-Cata
Ole, that is to say, which no Catholic can
need is there of a chaplain to tx the price
on cattle; what need of a ritual to consult
about raising crops; to take counsel to
gether about transportation or railroad
freight"
In conclusion Bishop Fink advises as fol-
lows: "Now if the authorities of the Farm
ers' Alliance do really and not Cniy appar-
emily seek the goo of the farming popula-
ton, let tn m present a constitution which
all farmers can adopt; let them present
plat 'orm on VIII CHI all farmers can stand, be
they Ca. holics or agnostlcs, Protes ants or
infidels. Let them come forward as friends
of the farming population and appeal TO
the honest farmers, and they will find no
class more faithful and earnest than the
Catholic farm r., ana none who will work
more honestly for the avowed and honest
ends of the association. As long, however,
as they dabble in religion, as they set up an
alliances VIII ch was to supply the farmers
with farmers lie igon, and act the farm
ers' Savior to save their souls, no Catholic
will take any part IN the alliance, nor can
he without violating his consc. ence.
although no Catholic can, with safe
conscience, become a member of the Farm
ers' Alliance sucn as it Is, according to its
constitution and ritual, no Catholic farmer
is prevented to work for the accomplish
ment of work ne ded by them to themselves
against the IN Justice of which they so Justly
complain. Holy Church has no objection
to any number of workingmen, or any other
class of men, assCciating themselves to-
gether for homes purposes, prov .ded that
such associat on Be open and honest and
avoid training after secret and forbidden
societiei, or dabbling IN religion, or setting
up men in place of God, h imam sslf-con-
stituted religion in place of the divine relig
ion established by Jesus Christ, the Savior
of mankind"
All rectors of parishes are required to
read the bishops past raj to their congrega-
tons on the first Sunday after Its receipt.