The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-11-21

Anent the present political agita-
ton pertinent question arises-the
duty of clergymen in regard to the
issue now before the people. II we
are to Judge from the consensus Of
the Protestant ministers OF large
cities, we may safely affirm that the
perplexing question, "Politics in the
Pulpit" has been effectually solved.
Ministers OF the various sects have
avowed from their pulpits, and justi-
fed in the press their course OF
action in striving to influence men,
bers OF their congregations as to the
position they should take at the
coming election, Their arguments
are based on the fact that the issue
is 80 intimately connected with
morality as to be legitimate sub
ject for Sunday discourses. Several
OF the authorities of the sects,
notably the Methodist and the
Episcopalian, have given "imprima-
tur" to their subordinates, thus as
Stunning all responsibility for them,
and, indeed, encouraging them to
continue their "religio POLITICAL
speeches. They are DESTROYS, how
ever, of laying stress on the fact
that were the issue essentially a
political one, there would no longer
exist reason for their advocacy
of it.
1t would be an injustice, however,
to state that Protestant ministers
are unanimous on this subject. Many
OF them deprecate the intrusion of
politics into the pulpit, and severe
ly condemn its admixture with re.
ligion. And this seems the sound
doctrine on this much debated
question. This opinion is not voiced
by the secular press, aud thus far no
paper has acclaimed against it.
The Catholic Church is unani-
nous to man as to what is right in
this matter. She fully recognizes
that a man in taking Orders does
not forfeit his right of citizenship,
that as private individual he may
express his views from the platform
or in the press, as seems to him fit.
But to disseminate his views from
the pulpit, using it as means of in
culcating political theory or tenet
would be such an abuse as to call
promptly for apprehension by eccle-
siastical authority Not orly would
such an action be obnoxious to
} Catholics, but to Protestauts also il
would be an insufferab!e offense
, Granted that Catholic priests were
using their pulpits for political pur
: poses, as Protestant clergymen are
now doing, and immediately we
, would he delugcd by symposiums
regarding "The relations of Church
| and State" "Priestcraft," etc, while
the sectarian press would prove con
> clusively that the Pope aud Jesuit'
: were contriving to obtain control o.
our government. The eutire coun
> try will resound with sentiments o
l disapproval-snd rightly,
3 But whence comes this difference
: At present we hear more OF approva
: than of condemnation Of minister
of the Gospel, who persistently ex
3 pound and defend from their pulpit
: such theses as these: "The I'm
: morality Of Fee Coinage" ma
q tional Honor versus Free Coinage,
Q etc. What are we to conclude
: from tbis2 There are two sup
q positions which naturally sugges
{ themselves. Either Catholic priest
and prelates do not enjoy the libert,
: accorded their Acknowledgment, o
5 secondly, that instinctively the com
y mon sentiment of the people per
n ceive that their exalted calling, tn
S sense and ssnctity demanded O
|, them, would but i'll accord with pc
:, litical discussions from their pul
l. | Mite CofboIic 1TjrrOr