The Irish standard., 1892-12-24
MINNEAPOLIS PAUL, sATURAY DECEMBER a, 1892
Another mistake on the part OF our
Protestant brethren has been to regard


the "liberal" tendencies Of American
Catholics as also, in part, due to our
superior intelligence and wider learning;
being fairly gifted intellectually, and
more broadly and deeply read than our
brothers in other lands, the story went,
we could not be contained in the smaller
vessels Of foreign Catholic thought.
Have We fair claim upon Catholic
scholarship and literature surprising
other lands? To ask the question is to
answer it. But let us confine it within
the realm of clerical studies, wherein we
have had the best chance to advance.
Are we ahead in these? IT Protestants
think that we are, the decision in the
school controversy should remove this
impression. There was not an American
theologian a weight and erudition suf-
ficient to see through to the right solu-
tion of the question in debate. The
spark Of genius in Archbishop Ireland
led him Alright, but there was no fore
most and acknowledged theologian
among us to demonstrate that his views
ran parallel to those of leaders of Catho-
lie thought.
Therefore, Protestante wrong the uni
versal Church when they pitch upon us
az her most progressive or scholarly
children. In no department. Of science,
literary, philosophic, or theologic work
can we compare with the Catholic erudi-
tion of the Old World. 1t is still our
place to stand at the knees Of it's master
minds to learn. OF course we have the
best of reasons for our backwardness: in
the circumstances we could not be other
wise. Most of us came here, as did the
Pilgrims, seeking refuge and place
where man might do mans part in
working out his destiny. But it takes
some generations to work up to the uni
versity. Harvard attained it's growth
slowly, and the John Hopkins would
have been impossible but for the seed
sowing OF two centuries. r.
Withal, as body, it need not fear com
parison with the clergy OF any denomina-
tion; and now that the university is
launched, it is but matter of time ere
It's stars will rise. Meanwhile, however,
It we're ungracieus in any Of us American
Catholics, cleric or lay, to willingly accept
compliments paid at the cost of the uni
versal Church. We do not lead it's van
guard; it's learning and progress influence
and enlighten us far more than we influ-
ence or enlighten it. We are proud that
this is 80, though we will be prouder
when we are fitted to stand in the fore
front. We are proud now for We can say
truthfully to our Protestant friends: If
such as we are you think we'll Of us, then
YOU should esteem much more those in
whose hands are placed the destinies,
humanity speaking, of the Catholic
Church, and you should be willing to ad
init that after all, the whole institution
Is not so bad as you have been brought
up to consider it. But we will be
prouder in the future, for then we will
moro fitly represent the mother We deeply
love and venerate, and when far reaching
principles are discussed so many of us
will not be on the wrong side of the ar
pument, and even those who May be
there, as some always must be, will not
be so absolutely sure that their diota are
the OK cathedra pronouncements Of the
See of Peter.
A third opinion common with those Of
other beliefs has been that our Church
authorities, at home and abroad, are too
apt to be led by other than supernatural
motives, the calculation of this worlds
profit and loss is said to enter into all
their spiritual undertakings. In regard
to our authorities abroad, q striking ar
ticle. which recently appeared on "The
Policy Of the Pope might besummed up
in this word: To gain temporal power
The Holy Father sacrifices, nay, even bar
ters, spiritual goods and prerogatives.
The essays strength lay in its seemingly
prompt quotation Of particular facts to
support each assertion made. To effect
ualiy expose it's neutrality-suspicious. would
REQUIRE conversuncy with the inside life
,f European powers, possible to very
law: but, thanks be to God, here at home
ira have q fact which does away with the
,harpe. as we'll for the Roman curia az
.or our own. spiritual guides. more con-
,,.,sively than any amount of argument
,onld. In the course Of the recent school
controversy among US there was, now
md then, q vague hint given out that the
,nneation would not be settled on it's mer-
Is and for this practical consideration:
rhe metropolitans Of the wealthler do
x,aae !, were opposed to the stand taken by
ne Archbishop Of 81, Paul, and would
,trenethen their position before Rome by
she argument of5a probable decrease IN
.Patefss pence, 2 and ct once q g Rome wouIa
.eel the, necessity 81 siding with them.
s ~: ,.rasa nm tnaU16 pOt0 20