The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-08-08
BISHOP NC FAULTS MISTAKE.
Jersey CHv journal

Jersey Chy journal
An address which otherwise would
have been helpful in promoting cor
rect public spirit, was spoiled by an
unfortunate error when Bishop McFanl
was talking to the Knights of Colum-
bus at Atlantic City on Saturday.
The Bishop is a well informed man.
He is eloquent, and his expressions
upon the subject of sectarian intoler-
ance are for Professionals es we'll as for
Roman Catholics but in uttering some
good general advice Bishop McFaul
denounced the administration of Presi
dent Mckinley where there were abso-
lutely no reason for his doing so. The
pain which Bishop McF'aul suffered by
misrepresentation of his famous Tren
ton speech of a week ago should have
kept him on the safe side and made his
Misrepresentation of President Me
Kinley's administration impossible.
The Bishop said that among recent
outrages upon the Catholic conscience
is tue civil marriage law in Cuba, where
by it is declared that only civil mar
fiages are legal. The phrase re
cent outrages" is unfortunate. 1t was
unfair for the Bishop to imply II collec
ton Of outrages without naming some
more fragrant But this may be pass
ed over; and it may be added that the
Bishop was entirely correct IN stating
that the civil marriage law in Cuba
declares that only civil marriages are
legal
It may be that decent government
will purify the atmosphere of Cuba to
aueh "a degree that the corruption which
Frustrated even the church and shack
led every other institution in the is-
land with vice, will be overcome, and
the church itself be emancipated; but
until that time, any law which will
promote public morality should receive
Catholic Endorsement. If the sanctity
of marriage had been held in the same
regard by that portion of the Roman
Catholic Church which has dominated
Cuba as it has been held by the church
in this country, such civil law would
never have been necessary. The church
in Cuba bears no resemblance to the
church in this country.
There were no place in the Christian
world where morality was at greater
discount than in Cuba mp to the time
the provisional government was es
tablished. Spanish authorities admit
ted in their published reports that 80
per cent of the births were illegitimate.
One great factor in this was the unholy
conduct OF avaricious priests in de
handing fees for marriages which the
means of the people could not supply.
Furthermore, civilized government
necessary TO enable it to discharge
some of lis most important functions,
and the reliability of these statistics
must he safeguarded. As soon as the
provisional government attempted the
accumulation of this data its efforts
we're frustrated by these same agents,
who had been corrupted by the Spanish
Government. Information was refused
to the Provisional Government, aud
the law referred to was enacted for the
protection of the government and the
people. 1t was not an outrage. 1t WAS
necessary measure.
Non interference with religious in
stitntions has been one of the cardinal
principles vi American reconstruction
aud Bishop McFaul knows this to be a
faet As soon ns the methods of civil
lied government are no longer anita
goniled III Cuba the civil marriage law
will doubtless be repealed