The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-18
SPAIN is NOT CATHOLIC.
Archbishop Gross Denies Repeated
Assertions Tint 1t Is.

Assertions That 1t Is.
Archbishop Gross of Portland, Oregon,
has issued the following pastoral letter:
ITO My Dear Catholic Brethren-The
impression is abroad that Spain is most
devout Catholic government, where ev-
erything Catholic reigns supreme, and the
mere will of Pope and bishops Is most re-
spectfully obeyed. Nothing can be farth
er from the truth. We cite but one in
stance. The barbarous bull fights were
introduced In spite of the Catholic Church,
They have been condemned time after
time by the Catholic clergy with the Popes
at their head. No one has so shown his
horror or condemned them SO severely as
the present most humane and illustrious
Leo XIII. And yet, instead of obeying.
the highly Catholic government of Spain
encourages them. Instead OF obeyug,
Spanish ladies and gentlemen throng the
bloody spectacle of a bull fight. The sa
cred devotion of Sunday or great feast
is 0rnamented with a bull fight. 1 have
small regard for the Catholiclty of Catho-
lies who spurn the commands of the Pope
when prohibiting what 1t is his duty to
denounce
1T has been objected that If Spain has
its demoralzing bull fights. America has
its brutal prize fights. Yes; but II did not
require a decree of the Pope to prohibit
them. Our noble government has prohib-
tied the prize fights, and has done all in
its power, and successfully, too, TO. stop
this barbarous sport.
I'VE are somewhat tired of hearing the
governments of Spain Italy, France etc.
called Catholic 1t is high time that the
people of this country should be told that
there is nc greater enemies of the Catholic
Church, and that these governments are
STOPPING to the vilest means te tear up
the Catholic Church, root and branch. 1t
may be objected that the masses of the
people 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 q Wind
horst and Mallinckrodt as did the Catho-
lies in brave little Belgium, as the Catho-
lies 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 governments
be ruled and every office of their country
filled by sworn enemies of the church and
by members of the vile secret societies
which have been condemned by the popes,
and If they themselves join by the tens
of thousands these prohibited societies
We'll let them enjoy to their hearts con-
tent the pleasure of having thqir rights
trampled under foot,
But we protest against the paradlng
of these governments as Catholic govern
ments, and claiming for them as such.
sympathy from American Catholics: thew
have our contempt; not one lot of our
sympathy
I'VE are wearied of all this prevailing
ignorance and Misrepresentation. Pombail
kaunitz, Choiseul, Tanucc Cavour. Crispi
were all soi-disant Catholics. But any
tyro in church history will acknowledge
that these gentlemen did more harm to
the CATHOLIC church than a Nero and n
Dlocletian. Let us tear away their mask.
Stand out in your true colors, We foes
of the church of Christ. We who don the
! very OF heaven wherein to serve the
devil.
1--WE turn to our glorious forefatbers-
we Americans of Irish descent. 1t is not
necessary to tell us how our holy reIle
ion was bound. and fettered by peride
Albion, as never county was. But the
gallant Irish Catholics yielded never. They
were always ready 10 fight against all
odds. And God helps those who hclp
themselves. He raised up that hero, ora
tor patriot and true Catholic. Daniel
p'Connell O'Connen forced open the
doors of the British Parliament that for
centuries had been closed to Catholics.
He shook to its foundations the great
British empire and compelled It to give
to our holy religion the splendid freedom
which It now enjoys in Ireland and wher-
ever floats the British flag.
William Gross,
Archbishop of Oregon"