New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22
against abuse Of 1t can he too serious OF 'oo
MOySTGNOR SATOLLPS DECISION

nONSTG yOR SATOLLPS DECISION
II is not too much to say that Monsignor Sa-
| TOLLS official Judgment sustaining the pulling OF
Bishop Wattcrson. Of Columbus ohio, IN regard
! 10 liquordcalcrs Will mark nm epoch In the MS
! tory OF American Catholicism. The facts that
! led up 10 II are briefly these: During the last
| Lcntcn season Bishop WattersOn Issued a pas
toral letter suspcnding every Catholic society
| in his diocese that had lquor-dcalcr or saloon
keeper rs an officer until II ceased 10 be 50
differed He also declared that he would de-
cline to approve any new society that admitted
TO membership any one who was engaged. either
rs principal or agent in the manufacture or sale
of Intoxicating liquors, and instructed the priests
Of his diocese to refuse absoluti0n 10 any Cath
Ole lquor-dcalcrs WHO carry on their business
"in a forbidden or discdifyng way. or sell on
Sundays, either openly or under any Sor. or
"g,lise or disguise, in violation Of civil law and
"to the hurt of the order and religion. and the
scandal Of any part of the community" This
ruling at once excited great opposition in the
diocese and one Of the societies affected ap-
pcalcd 10 the Apostolic Delegate who has s'lS-
tanned II in full, declaring that he approves OF
the regulation concerning saloons, and the cX-
"pulsion of saloonkccpcrS from membership in
"Cathol'c societies.
While this sweeping decision Immediately con-
Germs only the diocese of Columbus. II Is vitality
Interesting 10 every diocese In the American
Catholic Church: for II Is given lay man who is
the accredited representative Of the Pope. And
even il individual bishops do not NJ once see III
10 enforce II In their diOccses they VIII nlii
matcy be compelled 10 do so. 1t Is incrcdbl"
10 suppose that what The mouthpiccc of IA"
Pope officially declares TO be- an ecclesiastical
offence In one diocese shall continue To be nj
lowablc In every other diocese. Such an anon
ally might be possible IN loosely orEhnH'd
Protestant Church: but not in the Church of
Rome To all intcnts and purposes. therefore,
MonSignor Satolli's Judgment may be- taken rs
defining The attitude Of that Church toward
liquor dealers until Il Is reversed hy the Pope.
OF which there Is little likelihood. The attitude
IS one Of uncompromising condemnation. Not
only saloon Keepers. but manufacturers AMI sell
ers Of intoxicating liquors. as we'll ~ those In
any way connected with the business. are de-
barred from membership In Catholic societies.
r. as the language seems 10 imply, this includes
not merely the keeper Of The ordinary "ginmlll.
bur the proprictors Of gilicdgNl grocery stores
AMI their statesmen who sell wines and liquors
the ruling will produce Il tremendous revolution
In the Church. If II IS strictly enforced, il VIII
place the American Catholic Church IN the van
Of temperance reform. and draw 10 II the sym
pathv OF many temperance workers, who do not
ordinarily see much commend In the Roman
communion.
But the practical difficulties In the way ~ On
forcing such rule are very great. In the first
place many sincere Roman Catholics are dis
posed 10 minimize the authority of MonSignor
Saiolli They have not yet become rcconcil'd
10 his appointment ~ Apostolic Delegate. ana
they will do everything they can, short Of actual
dlsobc1cncc. 10 make his mission Ineffective
II there are any bishops who think thus. they
will simply assume that the decision applies
specifically 20 the diocese OF Columbus. and take
no notice Of H. Another difficulty Hes In the
fact that 80 large u proportion Of men Interest
Ell In the luuor traffic are Catholics, and more
over generous supporters OF their Church. This
Is especially In the larger cities. and the fact
has frequently Lccn admitted with regret by |
Catholic Journals So long this Is the case. II
would be next to impossible for Archbishop |
Corrigan. Of this city. for instance, 10 enforce |
the Delegates decision IN letter and spirit with |
on, nrouslng an opposition whose consequences p,
would be most serious for the Church.