The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-23
A FRENcHmAN's VIEWS.

l1Auc past 1Of Il DOOk Oh the American
people which he is about to publish in
France. In the last issue of the hide
pendent there is an article contributed
BY him on the religious situation in
America, which is interesting because
of the absurdity Of the conclusion
drawn. The writer is evidently sur
prised at the prevalence of religion in
the United States and the great toler-
ance in religious matters which he
found to exist here. Cup to the pres
ent," says the writer, "all live at
peace with spirit of fraternity truly
surprising. In the hospitals where
wise, one chapel serves for all. In
l saw clerical attendance provided for
the sick, one chapel served for all de-
nominations. AT the universities like
the quadrangle of the University of
Chicago, l have heard sermons not
only from every Protestant sect, but
even from Il Catholic prelate, the
bishop Of Peoria, whose sermon, fol-
lowing an opening service that was Il
veritable medley, came between an
Anglican and Il Lutheran hymn" 10
the writer who evidently belongs to
that class of Frenchmen who deride
all religion, this was Il surprising
situation. He evidently did not find
that quality Of liberty, equality and
fraternity in the United States that is
present in Paris. He says that the
af1liction Of the Protestant world is it's
Sunday" He concludes that IL few
Sundays in the United States would
drive /; stranger to suicide. The
theaterS are closed, the saloons are
closed and it is difficult to find any
thing to eat. 1t must indeed be diff
ticult to satisfy the French desire for
diversion and entertainment if our
cities do not present sufficient Oppor
tunity Sunday as we'll as other days.
10 the average American mind our
Dissertation of the Sunday is one of
the greatest evils to be contendel
with. M. Gohier ascribes the clos
ing Of theaters and places of amuse-
ment to the fact that the churches
cannot brook competition, and he cites
several instances of Protestant pastors
who provide attractions in order to
hold their public. But why should
this be distasteful to one who dislikes
all religion? The only good reason
that can be ascribed is because the
is not fast and furious
enough.
But it is When referring to the
Catholic Church in the United States
that the sprightly Frenchman becomes
really interesting. He says:
'"rhe Catholic question in the
United States is one of extreme inter-
est. Within a few years it will be the
Catholic peril. When one expresses
this opinion to an American Protestant
he laughs loudly, shrugs his Shout
ders, and pooh-poohs with hearty coll
tempt. He answers that the Catho-
lies of his country are animated by
genuinely republican spirit, that they
have no religious fanaticism, that they
are Il petty minority with neither the
purpose nor the power to trouble
American society. Very WELL The
following statements will be judged
idle by the American public, but they
will interest the French public, which
has been instructed by experience:
1.-The Roman Church, which in the
United States numbered 1850 CON-
municants in 1880, to-day numbers H.
100000 or more. The total population
Of the country is twenty times more
numerous than at that epoch; the
Catholic population, three hundred
times more numerous. 10 this we
must now add G,500.O0O of Catholics
in the Philippines, and 100000 in
Porto Rico. Nhe territory of the Re
public maintains one cardinal. II
archbishops, 81 bishops; administering
50 dioceses and 5 apostolic curatc-
ships, almost 1000 churches. more
than 5000 chapels with 12.5OO otticiat-
ing priests. There are 81 Catholic
seminaries, 1G3 colleges for boys, G29
colleges for girls, 3.4OO parochial
schools, $50 orphanages and nearly
1000 other various institutions. FL
nally, the United States alone sends
more Peters pence to Rome than all
the Catholic countries together"
How the Catholic question:" what
ever that may mean, is to become the
Catholic peril" whatever that may
mean. the writer does not point out.
Presumably it is Il peril because the
growth of the Catholic Church and the
general prevalence of religion in the
United States means that the nation
is to continue to be Il Christian ma
ton. This, in the minds of anti-re-
ligion fanatics and free-thinkers, is a
great peril. He wonders that the
American Protestant lives Mt peace
with his Catholic neighbor and pays a
high tribute to Catholic patriotism
and citizenship. 1t could not be other
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