The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-08-23
The Proof.

LIcEKTIOUsNESs OF THE PRIESTHOOD.
Editor Coltax Chronicle:
That all priests are or have been bad
men do not believe, else we would moi
have the crying out against their corrup
tions in the ages, as quoted below. That
q vast majority Of them have been, Il
proved by the statements of their own
brethren-so hopelessly in the minority
that they could only cry out against the
evils, bat were powerless to correct them
II everything is pure and lovely in the
sight of God and his word, Why is il neces-
sary to hide away from the gaze OF mens
HE that doeth the truth cometh to the
light that his deeds may be made mani
fest that they are wrought in God. "-John
iii q. Does not the secrecy OF convent
life to-day, IN view of past history and
present facts, and in view Of the close
social and religious relations the priests
sustain to these institutions, leave room
at least to suspicion that all Is not right?
The truth IL, this suspicion is as universal
among thinking Catholics a. it IL among
PrOtestants. Often times have We heard
their half serious Jest about this matter.
1t il the boast Of Catholicism that her
doctrines never change. The practices
all grow out Of doctrines. The icentious-
ness OF past ages grew out of the doctrine
of indulgences, and the doctrine of in
dulgences is still held by the Catholic
church. Then, are we not compelled to
infer that, though driven into secluGon
by public sentiment, the practices still
exist? But we are not left to inferences
for the past nor present, az the following
proofs will show: The history OF the
Popes OF the 7th century says, @Look also
at those monks; knavery and hypocracy
shelter themselves beneath their cowls:
the frock covers every vice. Ex-
anime also those converts Of nuns. The
beast has made his bed in all those dor
mitories, all Of those couches are de-
fled by the most horrid debauchery.
These abominable girls NO longer choose
the Virgin for their model, they take
Phryna and Messilina."
The council of twelve hundred bishops
from all parts Of France met in the 18th
The the record says: "The
council then passed on to other matters;
they decreed several capons to arrest the
Of the priests, monks and
nuns!' How long shall we be scandal
lied by your adulteries ye unworthy
priests," cried the monk Thomas, from
the gallery OF the Cathedral Of Bordeaux.
Pope Adrian wrote to the Diet OF Nurem-
burg. 1T would difficult to find single
priest who was exempt from adultery"
D'Aubigne Hist Ref says, "In many
places the people are well pleased that
he priest should have woman in keep
ng, that their wives might be saved from |
ais seductions." D'Aubigne says of the |
18th century, Most OF the ecclesiastics |
lad their mistressea, and all of the con-
rents Of the capital were houses OF ill., |
anne" Says Peter Damion, in q letter |
o Pope Leo XIII. I'VE have prelates |
Who openly abandon themselves to all |
Einds Of debauchery, get drunk ct their |
casts, mount on horse back and keep |
heir concubines in the episcopal palaces"
,hotins in letter to the eastern prelates:
They condemn the legitimate marriage
4 the priesthood and tolerate debauchery
nd corruption in the clergy" Martin
luther said: ITO what Q condition is
he clergy fallen, and how many priests
10 we fisd burdeued with women and
hildren and their bitter remorse, while
70 one comes to their aid" In the 18th
entury the declaration Of the nuns
bows that in the converts OF st. Lucia
nd ST. Catharine the female D0minicans
eoeived their confessors in the chapel
nd sbardoped themselves TO the most !