The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-07-17

'A" political activity of many of ph-
81 icy eve" in The mnely pollDiya! sJrus-
+I,, at Inc pas, There Is no eomrade-
sl''p 80 deep, So close, so enduring as
'nr oomradeship that existed thsouyh
al the DIE dtul past. between the Fish
, priests and people. Together they
fought, together they suffered, together
they died. When the dread. unbappv
night was past and better DAYS began
to dawn upon them. could they be in
o'11erent To each others lot? 1t was
not IN human nature. The Soggarth
Aroon could not be expected to stand
by lndlferently when his people were
sun engaged in unequal conflict with
the hereditary foe. Theoretically poi
ltlcs was no part of his business, but
lew VIII blame him if he threw in his
lot with the oppressed against the OPP
! pressor. with the weak against the
strong, with the poor against the .icb,
| with the men of his own country against
the aliens who spurned his race, MS
country. and his religion applause
II should be borne in mind however,
that although there was a want of COM
petent leaders amongst the laymen in
the past. this want will scarcely be adj
mitted by the prominent politicians of
the present time tlaughter). They think
themselves quite competent to lead the
people to victory. Some of them would
wish to exclude the clergy altogether
from politics lest they themselves
should be called to order for their do
/ ngs. This school of politicians has
come to the front Of late years. and al
though it is not gaining ground its
1 they confined to any one parish. These
reasons, which he had briefly indicated.
We're imperative in the past, and al
though no longer so cogent, still, to
some extent, they do exist, and in his
opinion do justify the Irish missionary
! priest in taking part in irish politics.
which could not and ought not to be
| tolerated elsewhere. But such inter-
! vention in these times must be judi
cious and we'll regulated, otherwise it
1
| to The highest interests of the Catholic
people"
DIR. Healy then said that young
! priests for several years after their
! ordination should not be allowed or
/ encouraged to take an active part in
| politics; that no matter what the age
or experience of priest was, whether
he interefered in politics or not, he
should never forget that he was prest,
and he should always abstain from say
ing or doing anything inconsistent with
| the dignity of his ministry nor should ne
in any circumstances allow his politics
to Interfere with the due discharge of
| his duty.
The bishop further declared that rs
| rule the pulpit was no place for the
! discussion of political questions how
J ever useful and important in themselves.
! they were profane question STILL and
could not With propriety be discussed
in the houae of God. Moreover. even
| good Catholics might greatly ....Heer in
their opinions on such questions. and
it was obviously imprudent to force
| them to listen to the expression of
! opinions which were distastefu to Them
| When they came to the church to wor-
ship God. The natural consequence
would be to keep them away altogetner
from church, or perhaDs drive them
elsewhere tapplause). Then, again,
priest OF prudence and experience, if he
found it was his duty to take an active
part in politics, would not take it for
himself in opposition to the views
OF his brother priests and ecclesiastical
superiors (applallse). The strength OF
| the church lay in the discipline of the
{! clergy. When they felt it necessary to
range themselves publicly in opposite
camps 1t was far better for the minor
| ity TO abstain from political action al
| together (applause). No superior could
compel them to become active pOliti-
Clans so that if any priest did not like
the views of the majority, and. per-
haps. Of the bishop. he had still the
alternative of keeping silent and attend
! ing to his parish-a safe and far mUet
| profitable work for himself daughter
and applause). To sum up no priest
was bound to become IN active or pron-
+, inent politician, and per Sc loqucnuc,
| it was rather the duty of the man Of
God to abstain from the distractions
and ENHANCEMENT OF political discuss
sions. Still there We're in this country
! may questions discussed in the press
and in parliament in which the spirit
| ua interests of the people were at
+! stake, in the discussion Of whir! ii
priest might take Il prominent and USE
! full part. Even in purely political lues-
| lions also where the interests of his
flock were at stake an able and cXre-
! rienccd priest might feel himself called
upon to help his flock in an unequal
| conflict between thu privileged classes
on the one side and the poor oppressed
people on the other (applause). But
even in such circumstances he should
never forget that he was IA priest and
he should regulate his language. his
conduct, and his demeanor as to bring
no discredit upon his ministry, and
give no reasonable ground of offense
| .1,,,t toy. >tD,,