The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-08
APPROVE THE CONTROVERSY,

Olergymen Express Their Opinion as TO the
Merits and Outcome of the Great Conflict.
The following extracts from opinions of
local clergy, reprinted from the Examiner,
are of interest as voicing the sentiment of
various leaders of thought in regard to the
great controversy now being carried on.
Father Lynch of ST. James Catholic
Church:
think this discussion has unquestionablv
done much good This haranguing against the
Catholic church that has been going on dav by
day for so long time was calculated to inf1u-
ence even the more unbiased element in the
Protestant church Continued silence on the
part of the Catholic church was beginning to
assume the appearance of assent. dispas-
sionate discussion, such as Father Yorke has
conducted, especially in his later letters will
go far toward clearing away the Instrumentation
that may have been formed in the minds of the
average Protestant. | think the controversy
has cleared the atmosphere considerably.
Rev. w. w. Bolton, rector OF the Church
of st. Mary the Virgin, an Episcopalan:
can understand the position taken up by
Father 4orke. Mr.. Ross contends that the
proposition that the Pope and priests ought to
have dominion over temporal affairs is q doc
trine enumerated by the Roman Catholic
Church. The church makes no such assertion
but what 1t does say is this: "The church has
a perfect right TO have some spiritual direction
when temporal affairs have anything to do
with spiritualities."
Rev. Father ii. H. Wyman, superior of
the Paulist Community in California and
pastor of the ord st. Mary's Church on
California and Dupont streets, educated
Protestant:
On the whole, ! think that this controversy
is calculated to stimulate intellectual activity
1t will help men to think of these great oues-
tons, for, after all, there is no man who can
really take sides any question unless he nm
derstands it in all its bearings 1t will help
the public at large to obtain a better under
standing than they have had on certain re-
ligious questions and on this account do not
regret, but am glad, that this prolonged cor
troversy has been kept up. l for one am not
anxious TO see 1t stop.
AS long as the people take an interest in
such questions it is well for those who best un-
derstand them to give forth their ideas to the
public.
Americans as rule do not take q great inter
est in religious questions. The fact that these
articles have attracted attention is proof of
this. All say IS. let them go ahead as long as
the newspapers are willing to publish what
they have to say.
. The newspapers understand the public pulse
better than controyerslalists, simply because it
is their business to do so. When the public
gets tired of these questions the newspapers
will be the first to find it out
Rev. Dennis F. Nugent, pastor of st.
Roses Church:
think controversy of some kind was al
most unayoidaole- You see, it was pretty hard
OF these people for the past two years WHY
the accusations they were constantly making
against the church and her priests were blood.
curdhng Yet no one resented them or offered
TO contradict them.
Rev. John f. Nugent, pastor of st. Bren-
dams Church:
The Catholics we're forced into this fight. 7
regret that the times and public sentiment are
such that reply to the avalanche hurled on
us is necessary. If things were allowed to 90
Oh unnotlced these people would become nm
governable. 1t would soon reach stage where
itwould be unsafe for priest to walk the pub
lie streets.
The Archbishop has sanctioned the stand of
Father Yorke and is, from what can learn in
perfect sympathy with him. We priests of the
diocese are with the Archbishop.
Rev. Father Thomas McSweeney. pastor
OF st. Francis de Sales, the largest Catho-
lie Church in Oakland:
AS matter offact it can do onlyigood to the
generation growing up that the plain Catholic
9octrlne pc placed before the people in clear,
olsunet hght Father Yorke has done this
ana think he deserves the thanks of every
honest man, Catholic and non Catholic
The Rev. A. NJ. Russell, pastor of the
Hamilton square Baptist Church:
Ny observations in regard to controversies
are that they usually result in more good than
harm, Tor IL the question controversial is
worthy OF public notice the majority of the
thinking population viii be quick 10 see il a
new interest will be awakened in the study OF
the question or questions involved and the out
come VIII be material increase of knowledge
concerning such questions, and in the cid set
tleu cohuctlons VIII take place in the minds
OF lne pupllc, thus enabling them to act with
more Intelligence concerning Questions placed
before them ana with greater charity to ALL.
CATALOGUES, books, pam phlets etc nrinted