The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-04-26
POPE LEO'e INTERVIEW.

The enemies of the Catholic Church
IN America are al ways ready to accuse
her people Of everything thew can, even
to disloyaity to their country. They
have been charged with paving tribute
to foreign power which they say is op
posed to education ard free govern
ment. Almost everything that is dis
honorable or disloYal has been laid at
the doors of our people by these dis
seminators of falsehood. At almost all
so-called religious gatherings now, it is
customary to have paper read on the
"Romish" Church, and if any of those
present dare raise his voice in favor of
any of the teachings of the Catholic
Church, the horse is Immediately made
too warm for him. His Holiness, Pope
Leo XIII. has seen fit to meet these
charges in an interview which we pub
lish elsewhere o.daY, and coming as
they do from the head Of the Church.
cannot fail to convince even the most
bigoted, that the American nation has
no truer friend outside Its boundrY lines
than the head Of the Catholic Church.
II have claim upon Americans for
their respect" saws His Holiness "be-
cause love them. and love their
country I have great tenderness
for those who live in that country Pro
testants and all. Under their constitu-
tions religion has perfect liberty and is
a growing power. Where the Church
IS free it Will increase and bless. | love
the Americans for their frank, open un-
affected character. and for the respect
which they pay to Christianity and
Christian morals. The press
and the Church should be together in
the work of the elevation Of mankind.
American journalism especially should
be amiable and benevolent toward me,
because my only desire is to use my
power for the good Of the whole people,
Catholics and Pr0testants alike, and to
increase their prosperity and happiness.
I have no other aim on earth than to
benefit them, and will never do any
thing that is not for their good, Journ-
alism is now very powerful, and it
should help me to spread the spirit of
religion and charity and to teach sound
morality. There are two things
in the world at present that receive
special attention-slaverY and the social
", nh Oh, eF, hoc
tab!ished colleges and am sending out
missionaries into Africa. Wherever
men are held in bondage the true way to
free them rs to educate and Christianiz5
them. An enlightened man cannot be
ensaved. Fortha reason I shall devote
the energies of the Church to the spread
of knowledge among the poor savages. -
How does this position which the Pop.
takes on education harm0niz3 with the
charges so often made by the enemies
of the Church-that the Church is op-.
posed to the education of tho masses
How does this and the so-called CATH
olic precept Ignorance is the mother of
DEVOTION 20 together? We trust that
such ranting and mlsrepresenting min
listers as Revs. Morrill, and Burgess will
not soon forget the Importance that the
Pope attaches to education. II shall
devote the energies of the Church to
the spread of knowledge" he says, and
what more do we want than this from
tho hood of tho (!nurch on tina all i'm
portant point? Now let LIS hear no more
about the Church being the enemy of
o1,