The record-union., 1893-11-09
eAGeING THE RELIGIOUS PRESS

GAGGING THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
The Catholic press has greatly increased
in strength and numbers in this country
in recent years. The spirit of broad toll
Grafton that dominates American institu-
tions has been fruitful soil for free speech
in the religious press by editors who
acknowledge spiritual allegiance to
churches. It has also stimulated in them
the spirit of criticism, and led them to
as freely write and print their views
about churches as about any other mat
ter.
We do not recall single instance in
which any church has in this country
brought to its bar for answer any news
paperman who has avaiIed himself of
the inherent right to decently review and
criticise church methods and discipline.
AS individuals who have close relation
with church communion, some of them
may have been called to taw and have
had the priestly thunderbolt launched
against them.
No one can justly question the right of
the priesthood to rebuke any lay COM
municant of his flock. That much the
Iayman comedies to the church when he
takes the hand of fellowship. But be-
tween this and a general illumination of
threats against the press warning it to
withhold the pen of criticism. under fear
of churchly anger and consequent in
Fiction of punishment that is supposed to
place the soul in peril, there is a very
broad gulf.
Now, however, it has come to pass that
one of the churches has felt it to be its
duty to warn the editors of its fold that
there are limits of free speech, beyond
which they must not pass. That is to
say. the Catholic Church warns editors of
Catholic journals to keep hands off when
ever the ecclesiastic is the subject of treat
ment or the DEGREES Of the church become
the test of critical examination.
In one of the later months of the Co.
lumhian Exposition a meeting of high
church dignitaries was held in Chicago.
At the convention it was privately re-
solved that the time had come when ed
itors Of Catholic papers and magazines
must be checked, and warned to cease
meddling with holy things.
The result was the issuance Of a letter
reciting certain DEGREES of Plenary
Council, and this letter has been for
warded to all Catholic editors. Practi-
cally it shuts them up like trap con-
cerning any and all matters that may in
yolve criticism of ecclesiastics.
In this letter they are cautioned" not
to attack ecclesiastics-especial Bish-
ops. They must not constitute them
selves the
Judges of episcopal decisions, DEGREES and
other such matters pertaining to the admin
iStration of diocese, or ind 1ault with them,
and thus expose them 10 the ridicule OF the
faithful and non-Catholics. Rather let them
heed the word OF the apostle and learn 10 De
obedient and submissive TO super1ors.
This is a general spanking all around
and appears to except none, since the let
ter does not read ''some editors or "cer-
tain editors" nor editors of certain
newspapers"
But still greater force is given to the
lash further on, when the editors are
warned that they
Must not think themselves privileged to ex-
anime critically what diyinelY appointed pas
tors, in exercise of their power, have eStab-
hshed, Tor such conduct disturbs good order
and creates fntolerabIe confusion. This reyer-
ence, which no one may omit, should shine as
an example in Catholic journals.
All this is warning; but. like much
parental admonition, there is attached a
penalty for failure to take heed. The
editors are told that unless they conform
to the policy indicated. their misdoing
will bring upon them
Ecclesiastical penalties Wherefore, Tor the
future, laymen or elerics who themselves or
through others associated with or encouraged
words, ill-natured utterances, raiIeries, those
in authority-much more If they presume to
carp at or condemn a Bishops methods of ad-
ministration-all these. principals, partners
and abettors. disturbers and contemnors and
enemies OF ecclesiastical discipline as they
thereby, their fault being proved, deserving
OF censure.
So the church proposes to try the ex-
pertinent of the lash. The Catholic press
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