The Irish standard., 1900-02-03
DEFENDING THE FAITH
An Effective Reply to a Bigot by Rev.
Father COyne,

In the GAINESVILLE (Minn.) Journal of
Jan. 10 the following able letter ap-
peared from Rev. James Coyne, the
Catholic priest at that place:
| hope you will be kind enough to
allow me to make some remarks upon
two articles published in the Christian
Youth last December. Though these
articles are published in Lanesboro, 1
am proud to say that they we're not
written here. When bigotry and sour
rility are needed here, it bodies we'll so
far that we have to import them from
abroad. Most of the subscribers to the
magazine are as indignant as the Cath
ollcs themselves at the offensive arti-
cles. But had the periodical been con-
f1ned to subscribers, of course 1 should
have nothing to say about itself or its
contents. However, it was not so con-
hned; for rancorous speech always
spreads quicker and farther than truth
or sober sense The mazagine found
its way into the hands of many men,
bers of my congregation; but worse
than all, it found its way to the reading
table of our high school, where pupils
may take it up to relieve the monotony
OF their studies when through with
their lessons.
In these articles they are told that
this republic is protestant Land"
hat it is free country, and yet no de-
cent protestant is quite free to marry
Catholic wife, that Rome is the 'an-
lent adversary Of liberty and light
hat every intelligent man can see its
'cloven foot'-tllat there are three
great powers in this changing world
Which are as Interchangeable as the rock
If Gibraltar: they are God, Satan and
rome" He shows us some specimens
If Rome's doings Rome is response
de for the cruelties of Alva, in the
Netherlands, Tor the massacre of St
'artholomew's Night, for the Gunpow-
Ter Plot, for the cruelties OF the Inqui-
'ition, etc. But Rome, it is shown
'ould not do otherwise, for its we'll o.
ruth is poisoned. The rich and the
Door are systematically robbed OF the
gospel" Rome teaches that mans sal
[ation is not through the mediatoria!
work. OF Christ alone, but the saints are
associated with Him as coadjutors in
he work. The "white-llooded sister
S not all right in this mans eyes. The
Jesuit is at the bottom of every atrocity
charged against Rome. Then comes
something that must concern us all,
when he alludes to the "concubinage
that befouls Mexico, France and all
other Popish and Mahometan coun-
tries" There is yet another passage
which will not copy; but the reader
of Christian Youth will easily see by it
that the days of chivalry and knight
errantry are surely passed and gone.
Now what must the young non Cath
Ole reader think of all this? Is it to
become acquainted with such stuff he
or she comes to the public school? An
impression will be made upon tender
and sincere young minds which will
continue long after such statements
will be removed by reason and study.
This impression will bias all future
reading on such questions. Facts OF
after life, that could easily bear a favor
able construction, will be interpreted by
the shocking ideas limited and stated in
these two chapters. All their future
reading will only be so much distorted
bigotry and one-sidedness. Like the
little garden-place of Sanford and
Merton--the more stuff piled on, the
worse for it. And how must Catholic
youth in the high school feel when they
see such things crammed into the heads
and hearts of their fellow pupils, who
are to be their neighbors and associates
perhaps for life, and taught to believe
that Catholics are to be looked upon as
Gabaanoites and Pariahs in this great
republic?
For my part, I cannot attempt to re-
flute in the pages Of secular journal
the foul ISLANDERS or the misconstrued
history of these two articles. 1 can
only deny them, one and all, as they
are stated. OF course, it is the bust
ness OF the writer to prove every one
of his assertions and to explain his in
uendoes. But he never can prove that
the Catholic church, as teaching and
governing institution, has been respon-
sible for the seventies of the Inquisi-
ton, for the atrocities OF the massacre
Of ST. Bartholomew night, for the
cruelties OF Alva. Such events as these
belong to the Infatuated politics and fac
tons OF their day. On such questions
consult Ranke, Guizot and Prof. Fish
err of Yale, who are protestants, and
prejudiccd enough against Catholics;
yet they will prove all need for the
present. 1 do not deny that Catholic
princes, Catholic parties and Catholic
mobs have been guilty of wicked deeds;
but insist that it was not because they
were good Catholics they were thus
guilty, but because they we're bad ones;
and because they acted in opposition to
Catholic teaching and discipline.
Respectable protestants will surely