Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-22
ASSERTED CATHOLIC SUPREM.
ACY.

ASSERTED CATHOLIC SUPREN.
ACT.
THE principal charge now laid
against the 'Mormons'' is that they
are seeking 10 amalgamate Church
and State, with the former domi-
mating the latter.
While this political war-cry Is
shouted without evidence to support
it, some very significant facts of
current history with which the
Saints are in no way connected, are
being passed with discreet silence.
Note, as au instance, the invitation
extended to the head of the Roman
Church TO take part, by representa-
tive, in the International Labor
Conference at Berlin.
The Pope, who is religious and
political stalwart in the full strength
that the term implies, expresses his
acceptance on one condition-that
his delegate ''taEe precedence Of all
others.''
The ground Of this position is that
Christianity is the pauscea for all
social ills, and that he, being, in his
view, the earthly head centre Of
that curative system, occupies a seat
elevated above all human sovereign
ties.
While we are not willing to admit
that the venerable head Of the Ro-
man Catholic Church is the chief
representative OF genuine Chris
tianity, there is an element Of grand
cur in his unvarying, answering
determination to maintain his foot
hold on the summit Of the pedestal
upon which Catholicism places him.
A remarkable feature Of this in.
cident is that while the potentates
atwhom the Pope's dictum is direct
Cd do not concede his demand to be
consistent by yielding to it, no
stated protest is made against his
unqualified claim that the church
should legitimately dominate the
state. No retaliatory protest Is
uttered 70 the effect that religion is |
a mere matter Of belief. and that
when it seeks to dictate in secular
adIirs II operates outside its sphere.
This phenomenal spectacle in the
nineteenth century would not be So
conspicuous If it were confined to /
the WORKOUT political fabrics Of the |
old world. It Is just as strikingIy /
manifested in this Republic. At
the Catholic conference held at
Baltimore several months ago. \
strong doctrine in relation to the
supremacy OF that church over the
affairs Of the State Gin all the
world' was asserted. It was held
that no secular government had the
right 10 enact any law that had any
relation TO the Pope unless it should
first be submitted TO and receive the
sanction OF that high ecclesiastical
functionary. Not a word was ut
tered by statesman or politician
against this remarkable assumption.
On the contrary when 4 Roman
Catholic college was dedicated n
short time subsequent, two Of the
highest officials OF the nation were
present at the ceremonies.
Although the ''NIormou,' Church
is bat a numerical speck COMPARED {
with the great Catholic Church. s
whose branches permeate all the
nations Of the earth, il one of its a
communicates is accommodated t
for breach Of its discipline, Q howl L
Is raised about its usurpation Of ;
power over its members. The fact r
5 telegraphed over the country. Il
md is cited in the course OF P
examinations before judges Sitting on a
ne bench, as evidence Of the domin- c
tion OF the Church over secular a
matters. The all Of the general k
government is invoked, on such Of
.ases, to deprive the oMormon,, p
'eople OF political rights aud privn- T
dyes and rob them Of their prop d.
.rty. to
This is latter-day' phenomenon. IL
iere is the spectacle OF a great al
nj powerful church which sets al
P, asserts and exercIses control pI
nd supremacy in secular af-
hrs, making no hesitation to tn
early define and declare the he
.et, and no word Of retail OF
ion il heard from the powels til
lat be. 1t suggests the propa- co
lily that the Roman Catholic tn
hurch has become so potential in ne
lis nation that it could crush any an
acial, however high, on whom it lao
ight choose to fan. OIL
On the other hand there is n small ior
dy Of people who have exhibited ha
any conspicuous virtues, whose Pc
lders are slid, by their enemies. to oy
-ect them in secular matters. inter pro
encs with many Of which would oe
a calimpossibility. Because ueh
is accusation is laid against them IN
~ are declared to be en-, mics Of pro
= government and ought to be de- wll
wed Of their rights. They are self
ali in number, are therefore nre. etc
med to be helpless, and conse- TAX
entity considered legitimate prey MN
the politician.
There are other causes whose PRI
are not generally under
cd, which contribute toward the
'duction of these extraordinary IT
They are spiritual ing
chara ter, end only liscernibIe sons
N that standpoint. We EXPECT peor
world in course Of time to wake this
to the fact that the chief reason take
the opposition to ''Mormonism'' the
hat it is simply Christianity un. way
a title given It by those who do proc
oeAeVe in the authenticity Of its reac
ms. class