The Irish standard., 1902-03-08

In recent address In st. AnthOny's
Hall, Brooklyn, N. Y, Rev. p. F.
.O'Hare, LII. D., said in part:
There are many questions pressing
for solution in this country which are
vital and momentous. The Catholic
church has something to say which
has bearing upon all Of them and
which may decide the happiness of
nation. But we, as Catholics, look
upon these problems and decide them
not from the standpoint Of Catholicity,
but Influenced by the newspapers we
read, by the political party with which
momentarily and accidentally we hap
pen to be affiliated. We are Cathol-
les in religion, sharp and hard bargain
drivers in business, and Democrats or
Republicans in politics. Our life is
divided, and hence our influence min
imized and our actions for good para
1yzed. There is an agitation on the
liquor question. Shall the saloons be
closed or opened, and only part Of
the time on Sunday? What is the
opinion of Catholics on the question?
From what standpoint do we approach
the solution of the question? No an
swer from, the Catholic camp. The
question Of how to deal with anarchy
is another one. What is the opinion
of the Catholic community on that
question? No answer. We have
driven the Catholic power out Of
Cuba, and Cuba is almost at the door
of starvation and bankruptcy. Is it
right or wrong? No answer from
Catholics. We are now deciding the
fate Of twelve millions Of Catholics
in the Philippine Islands. What in
f1uence do we exercise in this matter?
None. In a word, If we are to ex-
'ecute the duties solemnly laid upon us,
If the laity is to fulfill its apostolate
mission, it must not divide it's life be-
tween the secular and the religious,
but the secular life must be nourished
sand directed by the religious princi-
ples.~
Do hear you say we must be care
full because we are in the minority?
So was Noah and his household in the
time Of the deluge, and because these
few remained faithful God chose them
to become the fathers of. all future
generations. Daniel was in the minor
ity in the royal palace, but he would
not defile himself in spite Of his lonely
and dangerous position, and the Gen.
tiles around him were made to glorify
the name Of Jehovah. The apostles
were in the minority in Jersusalem
and in Palestine, but their answer to
the majority was: "We must obey
God more than man." We Catholics
are in the minority? A people of
whom Lord Macaulay, himself Prot
estant, said: "The proudest royal
houses are but of yesterday compared
with the line Of supreme pontiffs."
We Catholics in a minority? The
children Of church ''that was great
and respected before the Saxon had
set foot on Britain, before the Frank
had passed the Rhine, when Grecian
eloquence still fourished at Antioch"
We in the minority? Members of
church ''that saw the commence
ment of all governments that now ex-
list in the world" and which we may
feel assured will see the end of them
all! We in the minority? A people
with a tradition and history of two
thousand years, and Divine and i'm
mutable principles to guide them?
One with God is majority, and so
are we.
Another field for the Catholic laity
is the field of politics.
I encourage you to enter politics
not for self, not for pocket, not "for
what there is in it," but for God, for
humanity, for truth and for eternity.
Enter politics as a Catholic with
Catholic ideals, Catholic principles and
Catholic convictions.
No one who is at all familiar with
the subject will deny that our social
theories, our conceptions Of law, our