The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
ARCHBISHOP GROSS On SPAIN.
He Issues Pastoral Letter that Tells
Uany Truths.

Archbishop Gross. OF Portland. Ore
gon. has is7ued the following pastoral
letter:
The impression IL abroad that Spain
ITO My Dear Catholic Brethren:
IS a most devout Catholic government,
where everything Catholic reigns I'd
bishops IS most respectfully obeyed.
Nothing can be farther from the truth.
We cite but one instance The baroar-
Gus bull fight were introduced In Spite
Of the Catholic church. They have been
condemned time after time by the Cath
Ole clergy with the Popes at their head.
No one has so shown his horror or con-
demned them SO severely as the present
most humane and illustrious Leo XIII.
And yet, instead of obeying, the lighiy
Catholic government OF Spain encour-
ages them. Instead OF obeylng, Spanish
aides and gentlemen throng the bloody
spectacle of a bull fight. The sacred de-
votion of a Sunday or great feast is or
namented with a bull fight. / have
small regard for the Cathoiclty OF Cath
olics who spurn tire commands Of the
Pope when prohibiting what II Is his
duty to d~enounce.
1T has been objected that if Spain has
it's demoraIizing bull fights. America has
its prize fights. Yes; put 1t did not re-
| quire a decree of the Pope TO prohibit
them. Our noble government has pro-
hibited the prize fights. and has done all
in it's power. and successfully, too, to
stop this barbarous sport.
wv are somewhat tired Of hearing
] the governments OIL spain, 1ldls, france,
etc, called Catholic. It is high time that
the people of this country should be told
that there are no greater enemies of the
| Catholic church, and that these govern
ments are STOPPING to the vilest means
| to tear up the Catcholic church, root and
branch. 1t may be objected that the
masses of the peoples in these countries
are Catholics. That may be true. But
if they are not willing to rise up in their
might. as did their brethren in Germany
under a Windhorst and Mallinckrodt, as
did the Catholics in brave little Belgium,
| as the Catholics of France, listening to
the advice of the Pope. are doing under
the gallant leadership of Count de Nun,
and as the Catholics in the United States
always have in Know-NothinG attacks:
if these masses are content to put their
hands in their pockets and let their gov
ernments be ruled and every office Of
their country filed by sworn enemies of
| cret societies, which have been condemn
ed by the Popes; and if they themselves
join by the tens Of thousands these pro-
hibited societies-well, let them enjoy,
to their hearts content. the pleasure Of
having their rights trampled under foot.
But we protest against the parading of
these governments as Cathollc govern
| ments, and claiming for them, as such,
sympathy from American Catholics; they
have our contempt: not one Jot OF our
sympathy.
1--WE are wearied Of all this prevailing
ignorance and misrepresentation. Pom
| bal, Kaunitz. Choiseul, Tanucci, CaVour,
| Crispi. were all soi-disant Catholics. But
any tryO in church history viii acknoWI-
edge that these gentlemen did more harm
to the Catholic church than a Nero and
a Diocletian. Let us tear away their
mask. Stand out in your true colors, We
foes of the church Of Christ! Ye who don
the livery Of Heaven wherein to serve
| the devil.
eve turn to our glorious forefathers-
We Americans of Irish descent. 1t is not
| necessary to tell US how our molly reli-
gion was bound and fettered by 'perflde
! Albion as never a country was. But
| the gallant Irish Catholics yielded never.
| They were always ready to fight against
| all odds. And God helps those who help
themselves; He raised up that hero, or
ator, patriot and true Catholic-Danlel
OConneli. O'Connell forced open the
doors of the British parliament that for
| He shook to it's foundations the great
British empire and compelled it to Civ
| to our holy religion the splendid free
! dom which it now enjoys in Ireland and
wherever floats the British flag.
Archbishop of Oregon.
Done at Portland, May II, 1895"