The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03
FATHER M'NALLY'S WORDS

The Oakland Pastor Eloquently
Comments on the Controversy.
Catholics Loyal Citizens.
Rev. P. McNally, pastor of st. Patrick s
Church, West Oakland, spoke to his con-
gregation last evening upon the Yorke-
Ross controversy which is being conducted
through the columns of THE CALL. The
church was comfortably filled, and it was
apparent that those present were deeply
interested in the eloquent and at times
keenly satirical words of the reverend gen.
tIeman.
1t was digressIon, so he said, but the
temper of the times demanded that refer
ence be made to not only the controversy
itself, but to the accusations and argu-
ments contained in it. Father McNally
spoke plainly enough, for he went so far
as to exclaim:
81 can swear with my right hand raised
that l owe no civil or political allegiance
to the Pope of Rome; and every one of
you can do the same. Every Catholic can
swear it.
The speaker did not confine himself to
the controversy. He took advantage of
the opportunity to make concise and clear
points that have been assailed, and TO pre-
sent distinctly the Catholic attitude to-
ward Rome and to America. He declared
with unmistakable emphasis that Catholics
were taught nothing or required to believe
nothing that would make them disioyaI
citizen.
''In faith and morals" said he. 1--WE owe
allegiance to the sovereign pontiff. We
have nailed our colors to the mast and the
world can see them
"Dr. Wendte comes.out in the paper and
gives credit to Father Yorke that he is a
loyal citizen. For mis- information 1 do
now proclaim as | stand here on this altar
as a priest of the living God, we are in
obedience, In the allegiance of the strict
obedience, which never fails or falters, to
the vicar of the church of Jesus Christ in
the matter of faith and morals.
I'm regard to the controversy Father
4orke is In 1t alone; nobody in the world
is helping him at all. He would not be
in it at all only he was placed there.
Just at the time he assumed the editorship
OF the Monitor A. 2. A.-ism began to
come out. Father Yorke was thrown into
it; and then when those itinerant preach
ers came around, and st the Metropolitan
Temple and other places began to caIum-
Mate Catholics and talk against the Cath
olic Church he was forced to reply to
them. These men accused Catholics of
civil and political allegiance with Rome
ana for that reason we could not possibly
be good citizens of our country. Does not
truth and honor and justice require some
man to stand UP and refute THESE slanders?
This gentleman from Canada said such
and such were the teachings of the Catho-
lie church. Prove it. said Father Yorke.
! say there is no such doctrine in the
Catholic church and that you are a ca
lumniator. Show me the book, tell me the
page or the name of the book from which
you took your authorities The gentle
man from Canada could not give the proof.
And yet Father Yorke would have to preach
with him for several nights in the Pavilion
in San Francisco and help to sell tickets
yes, sell tickets-to please him.
These gentlemen who later dropped
into the controversy no sooner showed
their heads than they were driven back
into their holes. DR.. Bovard, DR.. Case and
the other doctors-all have gone and are
silent now. Why? Have they proved any,
thing2 Have they proved their assertions2
Then DR.. Wendte came upon the scene
and people said: Now, Father Yorke.
you have foeman worthy of your STEEL
In letter after letter DR.. Wendte said So
and-so. gave quotations as proof, and
Father Yorke showed him where he was
wrong. Next day DR.. Wendte replied: Il
haven't time to look for quotations; only
Il EAtnPr
1orke's reply was: DIR. Wendte. YOU
should not come into this controversy
with schoolboy notes..
"We are accused of being in such posi-
tion that We can't be good citizens. Where
are the proofs? | say unhesitatingIy that
good must come from this controversy.
Protestants had not heard the truth of the
CathoiIe cnurch, and there were many
things they would like to hear, Now thew
take an interest in the subject and read
what they would not have noticed before.
Father 1orke has shown them all these
things, which have made wide and deem
impression. The people have heard there
Is hotnihg IN Catnollc doctrine that would
cause Catholics to be disloyai citizens.
Father 1orke has sworn he owes no
political or civil allegiance to the Pope.
swear the same thing with my right hand
up, and SO do you all.
DR.. Case in San Francisco comes ont
and declares that we adore the Virein
Mary. A thousand million times the world
has been told that Catholics do not adore
ner, ne tnat they adore but God alone. DIR.
Father YorSe that his notes were taken at
scnooi. A year hence he will make the
same charges and use the same notes.
w nat are we to do then? I rlust say |
saw more poison in DR.. Wendse than / be-
iieved would come from Unitarian min
iseel. ne throws sop TO Father Iorke,
saying that Father Yorke's father and
mother were Protestants. The utter child
isnness OF big man putting forth such a
statemeut! The truth Of the matter is the
conoition OF the Christian world to-day is
q struggle.
DR.. Wendte has his Sunday-school,
suppose. Other Protestant ministers have
tneirs. That is very good; they teach
their children half an hour week about
God. We have our Sunday-schools, too,
every day in the week except Saturday,