The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-21
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
MODERN DETEL oPMESTS AND DE-
LUsIoNs
SQUAD Catholic Doctrine. Sustained by An.
thorIty-vIew. OF Fact. and PriueiPie-
I,..rr.tInx to Catholics and the PubIIc.

,ound Catholic Doctrine. Sustained by An.
,horIty-vIews OF Fact. and Principles
In,err.tIng to Catholic, and tho Public.
To TIE EDITOR OF tbs srS-Si-: In one OF
tho daily journals OF Wednesday last there
appeared a Communication on the subject u
the Asairs Of the Catholic Church in this coun-
tYr. signed Peace" 10 which doctrine Is ad-
y.rced o., such great Importance to the inhu-
,ucsan1 power OF the Church that l cannot
rstrAia trum adding n few words OF support
And atvocaey in the hope Of giving it greater
pccninanGe and vitality. Il appears that
CORRESPONDENT in your journal. some days pre-
yous,y. had argued that it would inIure the
Church In "a grand progressive march TO take
nat IN Political and secular contentious. and
th,. the p:isstly character. and especially
tho relation OF Father In the Church
and ether reasons excluded the consecrated
r.prssersative. In the holy ONCE. from active
interference n political Affairs. The comnu-
nt.a,Ion in question. prepared as reply to
that position. appears to have emanated from
the rastor Of st. Lso's Church-who announced
that he retained Ia his hands the original OF
the Ms; and from the mysterious and careful
manner in which the script Is guarded it would
seem to have had an origin OF much signih-
cancein person and position But what higher
authority is needed than the Rev. Ducey him
...t, he who is playing the deuce so effectively
with all rule. subordination- and respect within
the very portals OF the Church itself. and who
appears to be able 70 do this without fear Of
the consequences which would happen to any
humble priest
The distinguished author under cover otthe
Esv. Ducey. says:
-Ass- more words sagsessi by irreisvAa: matter in
he srt.eis OF a Catholic American: The propost
,,oa Is stated thsr. By Implication that ihs priests
far ma Ard
peace OF tss Charsa ma thocgdtless not iastt-
fed BY any ec:s OF uorsis or eshiea and IL made in
sns many ilstrtous examples 20 the contrary.
M Hoty ya:hsr has lately eoonssusd the French
eIsrSy Be dormant. eu, the contrary. Alert
far the good OF sssi- country"
Allow me to remark that this extract con-
taIns matter Of no smxu consequence TO the
Catholic Church and constituency under this
Government We all agree that It Is the duty
Of the priests to faithfully uphold the inter-
ests Of the Church. and to do everything ey-
eJvhere OF Q prisstly nature by which its
power can 10 extended. Is there any field In
which the aseendancy OF the Church can be
maintained with greater prominence than by
the active participation Of the priests in polit;
cal Affairs? Certainly there Is none in which
they could Be felt more as q controlling factor
In the government OF the country. national as
we'll IS State and city.
Its not difficult for q priest to be alert In po-
Itical Affairs. but it Is sometimes q very seri-
Gus question among the vtsest OF our great
men to decide which one Of eonten6inE parties
most truly represents the publ, welfare. So
general Is the hesitancy on this question that
We and the great body Of our secular citizens
divided into very equal parties In opposition.
OF course. as these parties are dramatically
opposed. one side must b wrong and oce
right 1t would not answer to have the Church
Gu the wrong side. But who shall decide and
direct whether the leaders and colu mns Of the
Catholic hosts shall be arraye ed UNI der the Dem
ocratic or the Republican standard in national
con:estI. or under Tannany OF P!attisrn in
local Affairs. SO that they shall surely be on the
RICH. side ? Il may be said that It does not
matter. so long as the power Of the Church Is
shown st the polls. which side Is taken: IS the
Church will be certain Of its reward
:or tie signal controlling service It
will be able to rendsr. II Is so much
political capital any way Is NOT that true to.
sc least. an extsnt? In national Affairs II the
rotss among 100000 or 1900. 600 OF Catho-
hes can Be organized in favos OF q candidate
for the Presidency. surely they would control
tn. election: AID = Catholic President. IN pur-
pose L ace IN faith. w.th ali the patronage of the
Government in his hands could favor and
bgiit up the Church Ia multitudinous Ways.
How IS the course OF the priest in political az
fairs &c &c marked out: Is it By proclamation
from Rome. or by more direct manifesto OF the
Apostolic Delegate? II would not do to allow
the Priests to scatter the influence OF the
Church by deciding for themselves. one going
oas way, another the o.hsr. aud fighting over
the POLITICAL ropes. Here. in this city the
Held Is rich ana within reach All our
Catholic institutions IN this diocese are more
or less supported BY moasy raised By taxation.
and iporop rated either By the Legislature or
oyths Board Of Estimate. Ard the Oh urch here
has many interests directly a. stake. aad many
interests could be created To be tostered. II
The $1,000 or 500 600 OF the Catholics and
thai voting capacity could be employed po-
itiehIly here alone. what grand results could
70 obtained! How absolute would be the COM
mad u the Church over the appropriations
the o-lces. and The general control OF the
municipality. Involving sixteen millions OF dol
lars Of patronage.
taink have a practical Plaza which could
be relied or 10 accomplish the best results
Ina Catholic Church OF this diocese l.
thoroughly organized under the dor
mat policy 81 Archbishop Corrizan.
IN associations .3r religious instruction
aad Church work: ani the Easements of
the churches are 50 constructed as % fur
hish cost e"nvsn!enty arranged places OF
meeting Ior the dsyou' assemblies I would
propose That al The m4ube-s OF these associa-
Ions ca made alert IN p1tite Affairs. ready
70 act A. 1 vors as one mar grtar instruction
ron the Snarcn- In the stormy tines Of cleo
tons publIc meetings should D. held Ia these
easements TO oe addressed ey the tests and
st.rrsd to the greatest depths b7 Chureh inyo-
cation ant promises, with nus. and rannsrs
inviting the friends OF good g7vernment 10
meet here" L woI.d az arsC us an nm