The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-26
LEO XIII. AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

In April, 1894, a Methodist minister's
meeting at Chicago addressed letter to
the pope Of Rome, praying him to use his
good offices for the relief of Protestants
who are prosecuted by Catholics in diff
ferent countries of South America This
was done that it might be seen whether
| the claims of that church to be the
guardian and friend OF religious liberty,
are true or. not. The resolution which
was adopted, and which was presented
to the pope, closed with the following
words: In view of the repeated and
warm approval OF the clergy and laymen
of the Roman Catholic church in this
country of religious freedom, as existing
by law In these United States, we respect
fully and earnestly request that the prop
err authorities Of that church use their
good offices, under the direction Of Pope
Leo Kill to secure for the Protestants of
Ecuador, Peru. and Bolivia the same lib
erty that is enjoyed by Roman Catholic
citizens of this country"
To this very reasonable and proper re-
quest, the pope has paid no attention. A
S.athoIics eniov full iii iibeTtv here but the
liberties of 'ProteStantS in The countries
above named have not yet been secured,
behalf. How can any one. then, blame the
Methodist ministers who united in sending
the request to Leo If they are a. little out
of patience at his tedious delay to answer
SO civil letter, and that they have de-
cided to press the question upon him
again, at the same time giving to the
press what they submit TO him. This time
they invite Cardinal Gibbons, who is
about to sail for Rome, TO become their
spokesman to the pope The following is
an extract from the letter which has been
given to the press in justification of their
course:
Every step of the movement thus far
or the Chicago Methodist ministers meet
ProtestantS of South America, has met
with the warm and hearty approval of
men, who, in statemanlike qualities. are
to III al
registered letters, most respectfully
written, have ben addressed to Pope Leo.
Ample time has elapsed, but no reply has
been received from the Vatican yet. Car
dinal Gibbons, VINO leaves Baltimore for
Rome this month, has been requested to
invite the pope's attention to the CORE
has received from this ministers meet
ing.
1.-THE Church of Rome is patient and |
persistent; the Methodist Church is going |
fore this contest is eLded, American ciui- |
zens will know to what extent the Church |
of Rome is the friend of religious lib
erty.'
II is not likely that the pope can be |
induced to pay any attention to these re-
quests; but in that case his silence is
equally as expressive as any words from
him could be. That silence will say, IN the
most emphatic manner, that the religious
liberty which is approved by the Catholic
where they are i'll the minority,
and liberty for Catholics to rule and OPP
press those who are not Catholics III
every country where their number and
political influence give them the control
of affairs. If this appeal OF the Methodist
rhlnIst urs shall be the means Of making
this one fact known to the people OF the
United States, II Will serve most excel
lent purpose. Rome has tried to conceal
her hand in this country, but in spite of
that so clearly that none but those who
are spiritually blind Will fail to see the
hollowness of her pretensions to be a
champion of liberty, and her dark designs
upon the liberty of this and ali other
E. Kellogg, in Advent Re-
view and Herald.