The Irish standard., 1909-01-16
BISHOP KEANE.

BISHOP KEANE.
Explains Why He is Giving Missions
TO Mont Catholics.
Right Rev. james j. Keane, ID. D.,
Bishop Of Cheyenne, wyo. and form
erly pastor Of the immaculate Concep-
ticn church, Minneapolis. tells as follows
why he is giving missions to nom Cath
olics: 55
The real motive is this: To give
helpful information on a question Of
supreme import and practical concern
to every one,x u once, years ago. when
a young man filled with enthusiasm,
was persuaded to campaign for the
Prohibition party In Minnesota. One
evening my companion and myself en-
tered a little village in Southern Min
'nesota, and went to the best hotel
We could ilnd, which happened to be
one managed byssan elderly lady. I
asked her Il there were any Catholics
instAat town.. She said: NO. sir, why
do you ask said: Just to satisfy
idle curiosity: 1Men I33said to her:
Now that. you have bee able to tell
me that theres ARE no Catholics here.
maybe you can stve me- some idea Of
the 3elatholic .isi, Nh, She said: :s..I
y know III aaolf III 4 W. bseu
educated with CatKGlics, 4 take 1t, or
perhaps have attended convent
school?' 'oh, no; never put foot
inside Of one.' Perhaps you are we'll
acquainted with some priest oh,
never saw one before saw you, If
you are one.' Well, then, where did
you get your information?', I got it
from al book written about Catholics
which read win you kindly tell
me the author of that book?' Father
Chiniquy.' Now, this! poor fellow had
been unfortunate nMhis life; he loved
wine and women too well to remain in
the ranks Of the Catholic priests, and
was excommunicated from the Church,
and after whilei'he turned against
the Church which had been his mother.
and said some of the nastiest things
that ever escaped the lips Of man.
This poor lady got her impression OF
the Catholic faith from this book.
s"Am not stating the matter cor
rectly when say that multitudes who
detest the Catholic Church have their
information from just such source as
this? Now, is it not indeed unfortu-
nate that any one should be wrongly
informed on matter Of great impor-
tance? And is not the Catholic Church
a matter. Of great Importance; does
she not merit careful Investigation and
consideration, rather than the ready
acceptation of the calumny Of lies that
have been told about her?
II Therefore, the object of these meet
ings is ,togcorrect these Impressions.
There are too many men living today
who would have accepted these un-
truthful stories about her, and they in
turn have enlarged upon these wrong
Impressions. and perhaps have even
hated the Church. s5I deem it great
misfortune that any one should hate
the Catholic Church; when II they were
rightly Informed they might have
loved her.
Je Then there is another reason. Chris.
tianity and religion generally Is at COM
siderable disadvantage in this day Of
ours, when fakirSwith no fear Of re.
suits may stand up New York. Chi
cago or Baltimore 81 sunday and de-
liver any Of the old calumnies against
revealed religion, denying the virgin
birth Of Christ, ~ His divinity. or
anything that is sensat tional, and every
newspaper in the country on Monday
will publish II in slefing headlines be-
fore the multitudes. who are perhaps
disturbed. or at ny rate interested
enough to want ~ know II these
.charsess are true. sBut II one of the
defenders OF our filth should 60 to
the same newspapess and say to them:
4 have here q ,refuts stton Of the caluni.
ny uttered by Mr.. Zones I'M New York
last sunday. wilIsyou kindly publish
IL ~ 1 n a ~ -, =