The record-union., 1894-09-01
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND TIE
SALOON.


The Roman Catholic Church has en-
phasized the year 1894 in Its history BY
sustaining the position of Bishop upon
the liquor question. Satolli. the Able
gate. speaks in the voice of the Pope.
Bishop Wstterson of Columbus, Ohio, in
the Lenten season announced his with
drawal of approval from societies related
to the church In which liquor dealers are
admitted to official positions; also from
the new branches Of such societies, or
new societies Of the church, admitting
liquor dealers to membership.
An appeal was taken to the AbIegate,
who promptly dismissed it, because the
Bishop had acted within the bounds of
his duty and his privilege. The decision
produced consternation among the saloon
men in Watterson's diocese and gener-
ally, for Il is conceded that the ruling
will be adhered to when other Bishops
follow the Ohio example.
Moreover, the Watterson decree went
beyond membership in Catholic societies,
the Bishop going on to direct his clergy:
If there are saloonkeepers in your parish
who call themselves Catholics, and yet carry
on their business in forbidden and dtsedify-
ing way, or sell on Sundays, either openly or
under any sort OF guise or disguise, In viola
ton OF civil law, and TO the hurt of order and
religion, and the scandal of any part of the
community, you VIII refuse them absolution,
should they perchance come to receive the
sacraments unless they promise to cease
onenoing In these or other ways and to con-
quot their business blameiesSly, II they can,
or get out of it and keep out of it altogether
= The belief is justified that Bishop Wat
terson did not act unadvisedly, but by
preconcert with at least some of his col
leagues. But since the subject has been
widely discussed, Mgr. Satolli has seen
fit to have it announced that in sustaining
the Bishop the church does not thereby
condemn all saloonkeepers, does not for
bid the reasonable use of liquors, and
does not declare new policy. The de-
cision, says DR.. Schroeder. speaking for
the Ablegate. is not an edict nor decree
It is simply sustaining the integrity of
the head of diocese in which abuses
moved the Bishop to apply certain disci-
pline. 1t does not compel other Bishops
to follow the example of Watterson, nor
even advise them to do so. The Pope
alone or General Council can make a
decree. So the church, says Mgr. Schroe-
der, is neither for nor against temper
ance societies, nor for nor against saloon
keepers. Its agent has simply sustained
episcopal authority to declare regulations
in its diocese. 1t has not promulgated a
fundamental declaration on the liquor
question.
But it remains. after perusal OF this sx-
PLANTATION, that should another Bishop,
and another, issue orders similar to
those of Bishop Watterson, the Apostolic
Delegate by his precedent would be
bound to sustain them. SO that the effect
In quite the same as if the church had ap-
proved the subject matter of suoh orders
directly.
It is certainly true that. unlike most OF
the dissentients from it, the Catholic
Church does not refuse membership to
the saloon-keeper. It accepts whoever
processes sincerity, and trusts to disci-
plining them sfterward for errors of
practice. Most other churches viii not
heed the knocking at their doors by the
saloon man; he must first abandon his
calling.
So far as the diocese Of Columbus. O.. ia
concerned. the temperance order is pre-
eisely as effective as If it had been the de-
cree of general council. We may there
fore consider its effect and probable
spread. This Ii not matter of faith but
Of discipline, and as such il must have q
powerful effect among the more than
5000. GOO Catholics in America.
That effect must tell for good, 1t is un-
reasonable to look forward TO any other
result. An organization holding. as does
the Catholic Church, its commandments to
tiny powerful ties, and having over them
commanding influence. cannot permit
Bishop to take such position as doss
Wattsrson and not effect bsnefioent re-
suits.
The declaration Of the Bishop. then,
eonstitussa blow bstwssn the eyes ios