The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-11-15
AN IMPROBABLE STORY.
q SsnsatiOnal Statemen Ghallcnged an
the PTeof Not forthcoming.

-I5
d Sensational Statement Challenged anl
I the PTsof Not Fort hcoming.
y very strange and robabis
story comes from Rich d md s u
il asserted that, at tho request Of she
colored Catholics, s oolored Sister Wae
received into the community OF The
Sisters of Char tys u in Richmo nd. The
white Sisters did not wish, to receive
her and only yielded Is tho order Of
the Bishop, who decided that the
Catholic Church knew no race dis
tinctions in aqnestion Of religious vo-
cation. The life of tn. Sister in the
community unsettled her reason and
when she most needed sympathy and
charitable care the Vicar General, in
the absence Of the Bishop, dismissed
her from the community.
The inference was that the poor
Sister was made insane by the cruel
dilemma in which she was placed, be-
tween the strict requirements of her
religious duties and the isolation re-
sulting from race prejudice rendering
the performance of these duties very
difficult, if not impossible.> u.
That such a cruel position would IN
time produce the effect stated is by nc
means impossible, but that any relig.
ious community in the Catholic Church
would be guilty of such cruelty and in
justice, against the laws of the Church
and the commands of their Bishop, is
scarcely credible. II true, no censure
could be too severe.
The charge is serious one, but the
slanderers Of the Sisters can safely be
challenged. They dare not accept the
challenge and produce their evidence.
There is no community that would be
capable of acts so manifestly opposed
to the teachings Of the Catholic Church
and the Judgment of all honorable and
right~minded men. 1t may be even
said that they dare not be guilty Of
UGH acts. Not only would God con-
denim them, but his condemnation
would be carried out by the rules and
constitutions of their order and the
just indignation of the Catholic clergy
and laity.
No matter what feelings of race
prejudices exist in the South, they
stop at the door of the convent The
Sister, as true spouse Of Christ for
the love of God loves most Gods spe-
cial favorites-those whom the world
affects to despise and persecute. In her
Sister in religion, like herself the
spouse of Christ, she secs, not the color
Of the skin, but the divine vocation
and the virtues that accompany it. Tt
is thus that tine Sisters are known as
the mirrors reflect the hottest and ten
derest qualities Of Him upon, whom
their thoughts are fixed in holy con-
mplation, while their hands are busy
in His works of mercy and charity. The
Sisters cannot be, as the story from
Richmond would represent more
worldly than "the children Of this
world" and more cruel than those who
advocate cruelty.
1t is, unfortunately. fact that the
public demand sensational reading mat
ter, and newspapers are too willing to
meet the public demand, supplying
stories, too often without
foundation in fact. 1t cannot be hoped
to change this as quickly as it should
be, but at least it may be asked that
what is sacred should aot be profaned,
and that the gatherera and inventors OF
sensational news refrain from misrep-
resenting those whom even the worst
Of mon regard with reverence and
honor If thew will misrepresent 9th
ers, at least let them spare the Sisters.
New York s'Freeman's Journal"