The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-27
AN APPEAL TO THE POPE.


About six months ago the Methodist
mittee to bring to the notice of Pope Leo
XIII the disabilities of Protestants in
Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, and to re-
quest him to use his influence to have
them removed. These disabilities relate
to the exercise of their religion by Prot
estants, the celebration of marriage, etc.,
and are of that proscriptive character
which might be expected to exist in gov
ernments so little advanced on liberal
lines as those Of the small South Amer
lean states.
Although the Pope is not responsible
for the legislation of these states they
are all Catholic countries. and a few
words from him would doubtless have
great influence in bringing about. mod
ification of the laws. The committee.
therefore, did right In appealing directly
to the Pope. At meeting of the min
listers held few days ago the chairman
of the committee reported that, in reply
TO a communication on the subject, a
letter had been received from the Papal
Secretary of State giving the assurance
that he would ''call the attention of the
Holy See'' to the subject. Whether that
was mere Derfunctory statement or
whether it will lead to anything remains
to be seen.
Considering the full religious liberty
and legal equality enjoyed by Catholics
in this country, the Pope ought to be
glad to use his influence to secure the
same degree of tolerance for Protestants
in the Catholic countries of South Amer
lea. Less than a month ago Cardinal
Gibbons. in a sermon preached at Balti-
more. said: Thank God, we enjoy in
this country the amplest liberty of wor-
ship and freedom of conscience" The
authorities of the Catholic Chuch should
use their influence to the end that Prot
estants may be able to say the same in
all Catholic countries.
While writing to the Pope on the SUBJ
ject the committee also addressed let
ters to a number of representative men
in this and other countries requesting an
opinion as to the justice and wisdom of
the movement. The replies were unani-
nous on this point, but some Of them
expressed singularly diverse views as to
the probability of favorable action by
the Pope. Thus. Mr.. Justin Mccarthy,
the well-known Irish member of Parlia-
ment, writing from London under date
Of Aug. 3, 1895, says: Il feel no doubt
whatever that the influence of the Pope
will be exercised in securing for Prot
estants in the South American republics
the same liberty OF conscience that is en-
joyed by Roman Catholic citizens of your
country" Very different is the opinion
Of the English poet. Algernon Charles
Swinburne. He considers the appeal to
the Pope in such a case "wanton waste
of time" Force says Mr.. Swinburne.
land force alone could obtain even a
show Of justice, decency. or fair play
from the ministers and agents of a re-
ligion which has never yielded one jot
Of its atrocious pretensions except under
sheer compulsion of absolute necessity"
Not quite so strongly expressed. but on
the same line, is letter from w. Z. H.
Lecky, author of the History of Eng
land in the Eighteenth Century" and
other works. Writing from vosbergen,
Holland; under date of the 18th ult., he
says:
| wish you all success in your efforts to
obtain repeal of the grossly intolerant
laws about Protestant marriages which ex-
list in some OF the South American states.
list in some of the South American States,
but shall be much surprised IL you obtain
any real help from the Vatican. Such laws
were once general in Roman Catholic coun-
tries. They were always inspired or sug-
81 10 fha rrfn md
abolished when the political power of the
church was restricted or overthrown.
The committee has certainly succeeded
in giving prominence to the movement
in hand, but ii will take some time to do
South American countries.