New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-19
THE C1TUOLIC CONTKOVERSf.

THE CdTHOLIC CONTKOVERSY
The appoinrmcnt of an Apostolic Delegate
in the United states may not Immediately and
completely terminate the controversy which
Roman Catholic prelateS, priests and laymen
have been vaging under the public eye for
several weeks and behind u rather gauzy veil
for a much longer time; but it will probably
infuse discretion among The more valoronS com
batants and strongly tend to enlist the rest
in support of the papal policy a. enumerated
by Monsignor SatJIl Those who have hthcr-
10 promoted the contention from personal
motives in a spirit of contumacy and those
who have sincerely believed that they wore
pursning a course which the Pope would APP
prove so soon a. he gained a thorough com
prchcnSion Of the ease. have now received in
unmistakabIe terms warning and instruction
which they are likely TO heed.
The development and progress Of the con-
froycr,y have been intensely interesting large
~. no Doubt because Of lis novelty. To like
10 hear secrets is human weakness, or al
least a human characteristic and II Is 10 won
der that the whole country began 10 listen
ntently when a cautious and retlccnt hcr-
archy began t. talk Some persons who have
imagined that lively verbal diSputatiOn would
develop into an open and irrrconc liable con
tct may regret the cessation Of hOSiitleS. bu;
the most intelligent OF the great majority Of
Protestant Americans. who d. not own allegl-
ancc 10 the Pope nor feel any intellectual sym
patty with a spiritual sovereignty, will re-
joicc If a great Church whose authority over
the c0nsciences and actions Of millions is the
strongest guarantee Of order and morality in
many parts Of the United states. shall avoid
division and d>cIedit; aud especially since II
will in that case owe it, escape 10 the inter
ycntiJn OF Pontih who accounts love Of
country a virtue and free institutions
blessing.
Perhaps the most striking and significant
fact wh>h this contest Of policies and prOclivi-
ties has disclosed i the hcxibility Of the Roman
Catholic government. Leo has not permitted
himself t. be- cntansled and held fast by
picccdenis. He has in fact reversed the old
theories rs 10 the stern and rigid character
f Church discipline. the awful nature Of a
sentence of communication and the Obliga
ton Of instant, implicit and accomplishing
obedience 10 papal orders The case Of
DR.. McGlynn, though it did not originate
yersy. fcrcibly illustrates the Popes indie
pendence Of convention. Before that much
discussed priest had begun to oppose the ar-
ihority Of his bishop hi, charitable and benevo-
lent disposition had endcarcd him TO his parish
and 10 many persons outside of IT, and in the
first stages Of hi, rebellion there was a natural
inclination. in spite of his vagareS, 10 sympa-
ihize with q man who seemed 10 be obcying
his conscience AZ his own cost. liut he proved
unequal 10 the strain His ardor degenerated
into vchemcnrc and this in turn finally be-
trlyed him into vulgar and insulting eplthets
which neither the pardon Of the Church nor
his bclatcd dcnials can oblitcrate. II would
be hard 10 imagine more contemptuouS def
ance than Dr. McGlynn exhibited to his SUI
periors or jauntier air than the supposed
penitcnt now adopts. IL is an extraor
dnaly thing that an offender Of such TEN
per- uttcrancc and action has been restored
without a recantation, against the judgment
and desire of his immediate superior in the
hierarchy. An autocrat capable Of such indie
pendencc and magnanmty the Pope has
shown is an original figure in the evolution of
Catholicism, though il must be acknowledged
that the issue OF this encounter with his re-
bellious subjects, while it may have promoted
the safety of the Apostolic See, has not en-
HANGED its dignity.
But the experience of DR.. McGlym is only
Il temporary and inconsiderablc feature Of the
struggle which is now in process of abatement |
Whether or not il be assumed that his case |
was employed as a convenient means of as
sorting the supremacy Of Rome at critical |
moment and thereby testing the obedience of
the American Church. his singular revolt and |
restoration will produce no lasting conse-
quences The development which deeply in
tercsts the people of the United States and may !
profoundly affect the future Of the country is |
the liberalization Of Catholic sentiment re- |
speeding our educational system, under the |
authentic warrant Of the Head of the Church. |
and the evidence thus afforded that the free |
growth and enjoyment of American institu-
lons will not be inpcdod by scctlrian shacklcs |