The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-18
CATHOLICS.
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND GIVES AN
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW.
How the Pope Looks Upon ParIia-
ments of ReIigfOns-How Far ca
thOlics Will Be Allowed to Go.

ST. PAUL, Mimi. Oct. 17-Arch-
bishop Ireland in an interview with
the Associated Press representative to.
day said:
THE words of Pope Leo are in no
manner of means a condemnation of
parliaments Of religions. He merely
prescribes the methods or conditions
under which Catholics may take part
in them. He deems unadvisable the
promiscuous assembling of Catholics
with men of all forms of religion,
Buddhists and Mohammedans and non
Catholics upon the same platform for
the discussion Of religious questions.
The pope, no doubt, somewhat fears,
as many others did and do, that from
such promiscuous gatherings the i'm
preSSionS go out into the public mind
that all forms of religion are looked
upon as of equal value and equal suffi-
cheney. The Catholics who participated
in the Chicago parliament of religions
were not without their misgivings as
to the peril of impressions of this kind.
But circumstances did not suggest nor
allow other arrangements than pro-
miscuous assemblage, and in view of
the general good expected from their
participation in the congress, Catholics
flying their consciences that all things
would be made right by their en-
phatic and repeated declarations that
the principles of the Catholic faith re-
manned intact. and nothing done or
said should be taken as placing relig-
ions on the same footing as the Cath
Ole.
But now, when congresses or par
liaments of religions are becoming fire.
- INa
manent institutions, it is felt that such
care ought to be taken by Catholics
that not even the most delicate and
scrupulous conscience among the chill
dren of the church be alarmed or that
the most unthinking non-Catholic be
led to misapprehend the Catholic po-
sition. Hence the words of warning
coming from the sovereign pontiff."
The pope's words are: "It would
seem more advisable that Catholics
hold their own meetings apart; but in
order that the usefulness thereof be
not confined to Catholics, access is TO
be given to everybody, whether he be
a Catholic or one separated from the
Catholic faith"
Congresses of religions will continue
to be held and Catholics may take
part in them under certain well-de-
fined conditions. Catholics will hold
their meetings during the same period
of time and on the same grounds as
the represe nta tiVes of other faiths or
religions, but in halls of their own.
marking in this way their own doc
trinal eXclusiveness, and yet allowing
to others the advantages of hearing
their decisions. All the results that
were ever expected from congresses of
religions remain, such as the allowing
of comparative studies of the several
faiths, the exhibiting to the world of
the fundamental truths scattered
through all of them, and the good
points of each one, although in SO
many of them those points he fraS-
mentary and incomplete. And, at the
same time, no Catholic. whoever he be
will have room for complaint or will
/ find reason for being absent from the
congresses. The Catholic attendance
/ at congresses WI in this manner be
/ larger than it otherwise would have
/ been. Whenever the religions of the
world appear in state and voice their
| beliefs, the Catholic church owes it to
/ herself to appear and to speak so as
I to give public testimony to the com
/ pleteness of the truth which she pro-
! fesses to hold. and to tell the nations
/ that she lives and is destined to live
! through ages.
Much agitation is at the present
! time being had in Europe over the
proposition to hold a great congress
! of religions in Paris during the exposi-
/ ton of 1900.
The idea of Paris congress of re-
! ligions has sprung from the great con-
| gress in Chicago two years ago. 1t
! received such impetus from Rev. John
! Henry Barrows. the inspiring and d.
! recting spirit Of the congress at Chi
/ Sago. during his recent visit to France.
I and It will no doubt lead to a prea I
/ success. Catholics may we'll take part
in it. Indeed. the Dope's letter has
cleared the way for 1t by marking out
the conditions under which it NAV be
had. even In punctillous Europe. I am
/ Of the mind that this letter of the pope
( on congresses in america is entirely
+ due 70 this coming Paris congress. It
VIII serve as a guide to Catholics in
/ all countries of America or Europe
/ wherever congresses of religions NAV
7 be held I am glad Rome has spoken.