The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-05-04

there upon their lips word Of dislOy-
atty to the church? I challenge the
most Catholic lands to show me Cath
olics more courageous in the profession
of their faith, more consistent in bring
ing it's principles into their daily man
ner of life, and if, from Its exterior
manifestations you pass to an examina-
ton Of their faith itself, do you not
find it as intact and undefiled, as it is
bold and firm? Is it not, to the smallest
iota, the faith of Peter, the supreme
shepherd Of the whole flock, to whom
they are united in love and obedience
as never were more so Catholics of any
country Of Christendom?
What people and priests have accom-
plished! See it in the change wrought
in American public opinion. Three
quarters Of a century, half century
ago, anti Catholic prejudice was domi-
nant in the land. Our non-Catholic
fellow-citizens were not to be blamed;
they had not known Catholics as Cath
olics are, and they treated them ac-
cording to what they believed of them.
At the same time, however, there was
implanted deeply in the American
heart the sentiment of fair play and of
justice for all citizens. From the be-
ginning Of the republic this sentiment
was Incorporated in the constitution of
the nation, and gradually it entered
into the laws of the several states.
To make it live in social customs and
practices was, necessarily, a task of
greater magnitude; this was to depend
much on Catholics themselves, and
their loyal translation of Catholic
principles into their daily life through
which they were to push aside preju-
dice and win esteem and. recognition.
This they have done, and done most
successfully. Today in America the
reign of ill-feel1ng and animosity has
passed away. In America, Catholics
and non-C Catholics differ from one an
other In creeds and spiritual allegiance;
but, as true Americans, they respect
one another and accord to one another
their civil and social freedom, all work
ing together in peace and harmony for
the greater veal of society and of
country.
The problem before the church of
America was, whether the Catholic re-
ligion could prosper in an atmosphere
Of absolute freedom, without aid or
prop from state organization. or even
from compact social or national tradi-
tons, whether from it's innate vigor,
watered by the dews of heaven alone,
it could live and prosper. To one who
believes in the divine origin Of Catho-
lie faith, or has read diligently the
story of ages, the issue of the problem
should never have been doubtful. Yet,
so accustomed had Catholics been to
see the church allied with the state, or
working only in populations in whose
souls it was encrusted by the accre-
lions Of centuries, that many in Amer
lea and more SO in Europe were not
willing to trust to it's vitality when
wrenched from congenial surroundings
and planted suddenly. as it were, in
the wilderness to battle, alone and un-
protected. with drouth and tempest.
The problem was most interesting, fol-
this other reason. that, whether for
woe or veal, the entire world is seen
rapidly drifting towards the social and
political conditions Of America, and the
church on trial in America is the
church on trial for the world.
In America the Catholic faith was
on trial, and SO was democracy itself
in it's relations with religion. And
here is the cause Of so many attacks
made on the American church. Those
attacks covertly are attacks on democ-
racy. 1t would have been most con-
venient for reactionary theorists to be
able to say to Catholics the world over
your church cannot thrive in de-
mocracy, in the full freedom which de-
mocracy ensures. Thank God, to such
theorists, both American Catholic
church, and American democracy have
given saddest disappointment.
Two statements are made derogatory
to the honor of the American church
one that it has shown no power of ex-
pansion from within, no power to eff
feet conversions from Catholic
bodies; the other, that it has lost i'm
mense numbers of it's own children.
Those statements are wildly circulated
through Europe, with most regrettable
results, and unfortunately encourage
ment is sometimes given to them by
imprudent words from pen and lip of
American Catholics. 1 cannot, of
course, offer this morning a detailed
refutation Of those statements; can
but oppose to them my own deepest
conviction, and make, regarding them,
a few brief observations.
AS to conversions-Should we at first
sight expect conversions, If we reflect
on the situation of the American
church during the greater part Of the
century, when Catholics were stran-
gers, and poor in the land, and priests
were few; when the question for the
church was to put itself on it's feet, to
give shelter to the throngs of immi-
grants rushing yearly into its arms;
when leisure and onnorfnni+y ,,,oro