Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-29
TOO EASY ON M'GLYNN.
The Laity Treading Where Ecclesi-
aStics Are Keeping Out.
HE SHOULD AT LEAST DO PENANCE,
So They Say, and Threaten to Formally
Irotest to the lOpe.
ARCHBIsH. CORRIGAN WAS sLIGHTED

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM To THE DTsPATCH.l
NEW YORK, Dec 2S.-Interest in DR..
McGlynn's restoration to the priesthood in
creases as the days pass. Catholic laymen
have had time to think the affair over and
they are beginning to gain courage to
speak their thoughts When The DIS
PATCHss first news was positively con-
frmed and the restored priest resumed his
function without public apology or pen
ance there was disposition to keep silent
and await developments. When no de-
velopments came and the clergy proved
unable to throw light on the situation the
laity took it up.
One result of the deliberations of the lay
men has been the starting of movement to
take some action expressive of the general
opinion. This opposition is that the re-
storation has been accomplished in man
ner which puts all precedent at defiance
and is adverse to the best interests of the
church The movement is vaguely defined
at best Whether the protest, if one is
made, will come in the form of meeting or
q private address to the Pope is as yet
matter of discussion. Whether anything
is done or not, it is evident from talks with
Catholics that there is only one opinion
among those laymen who have not
been numbered among the supporters
of the priest from the beginning.
II he had been required to do some act of
public pc nance. his restoration would have
been rece ived with general satisfaction. AS
it is the feeling is that Archbishop Corri-
gan has been slighted and that an act has
been done which tends to belittle the au-
thority of the governing powers of the
church. Richard H. Clark, LII D., the
President of the New York Catholic Pro-
tectory, said to-day.
Satoli Certainly Was Instructed.
''This being a question entirely Of an &C.
clesiastical character, it is very difficult for
laymen, however we'll informed upon
Catholic subjects, to say anything upon it.
The question was first mooted as to what
Mgr. Satolli's powers we're in this country.
The answer to this has never been pub
lished. Many prelates expressed the opin-
ion that he had been simply sent to this
country to represent the Pope at the Co.
iumbian Exposition. 1t is not to be pre-
sumed, however, that on a question of
power committed to him in writing at
Rome he could have exceeded the
authority to which he was entitled.
The Judgment and discretion and pru
dence with which he may exercise
his power in given case, however, is GER
tainly open to free discussion and free opin-
ion, and it implies no disrespect to him tor
either clergyman or layman to express
dissent from his action in the case. The
case of Dr.. McGlynn was public one and
Al goaA III ,Nall
gent citizen of this country. have no hesi-
tation in saying that 1 disapprove of Cath
olic ecclesiastics taking any active part in
politics, and think that when priest has
done so in error and has been admon-
ished by his ecclesiastical superior
to discontinue his course, his
disobedence to such an order is as serious
an offence against priestly conduct as his
meddling with politics Ifa Bishop or Arch
bishop has the control of his owndiocese and
the government of his clergy taken out of
his hands, it looks to me as though it was
a severe blow to thu efficiency and prosper
itv of church administration in this
country The impr ession prevails pretty
generally in the press and with the public
that the restoration of DR.. McGlynn was
unconditional, and was done without con-
sultation with DR.. McGlynn's immediate
superior, who is the Archbishop of New
York. If this be so 1 think it is unusual
and very much to be regretted.
1t Wasn't Proper Step.
'It leaves us all free, therefore, 10 ex-
press opinions as to the restoration of DR..
McGlynn, and my opinion is that 1t was not
proper step. If DR.. McGlynn had recanted
and apologized and made suitable promises
for the future in those respects in which he
received ecclesiastical censure, l should
have reioiced at his restoration. At the
same time, it is an ecclesiastical question
and the laity are not consulted on such
questions and in my opinion ought not to
volunteer to intervene by any demonstra-
tion. L have seen it stated in
the newspapers that some such move
ment was spoken OF. 1 have not heard
anything about it, except what 1 saw in
some of the newspapers. I should regret
to see such a movement made by the laity.
NV confidence in the ustIce of the Pope
and his advisers is such that would feel
certain that he would remedy any I'M ustice
that might have been done to the Arch
bishop of New York. 1t cannot be posi-
BILE that access to the court of Rome is cut
off from an Archbishop by the appointment
of Monsignor Satolli."
Adrian Iselin, Jr., declined to express an
opinion for publication, but said that he
had pronounced opinion.
W. j. Tanning, Secretary of the Catho-
lie Protectory, said:
81 think it would be premature to ex-
press opinions before we know what has
been required OF DIR. McGlynn in the way
of penance or apology. Of this we know
nothing whatever. feel certain that when
the facts are known, if at all, it will be
learned that proper penalty has been e1-
acted and paid. You know the feeling
among Catholics generally is that inasmuch
as DR.. McGlynn's offense was public the
punishment should be public also. 1t is an
undoubted fact that there is feeling that
Archbishop Corrigan has been slighted, but
we have not rs yet any actual knowledge
IL hinh tn rrnnlra thir IT nj