Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-08-31
Makes Statements That Its Edi-
tor Knows Are I'm
true.
Evinccs a Prejudice Or IgnOr-
ance That AstOnishes
Chirtians.
WHAT BAPTIST WORLD SAYS

There are two Baptist papers pub
lished in Louisville, the Baptist
World and the Western Recorder, the
last named permeated by a prejudice
or ignorance and hatred of Catholic
ity that is sickening. In its current
issue the Western Recorder makes an
attack on the American Catholic
Federation that lacks any semblance
of Christian spirit and is as surpris-
ing as it is untrue. The Kentucky
! Irish American challenges the West
ern Recorder to make good any one
of the statements in its Limited
Divorce" editorial, which is here
given in full:
THE Committee on Laws Of the
American Federation of Catholic So
cieties, recently engaged in a spec
/ tacular celebration in Louisville,
recommended that there be a limited
divorce for members Of the Catholic
church who were not content with
their marital relations. And this
leads us to remark that Roman
Catholics have long played fast and
loose with the question of divorce.
In our time we have often heard
Protestants say, We believe that
Catholics are right about divorce
Such belief among Protestants arises
/ from a total misunderstanding of the
Catholic position on the question.
When Catholics boast that they never
permit divorce they advertise the
fact that they are at variance with
the Scripture teaching on this sub
iect. The New Testament clearly
authorizes divorce where the scrip
tural reason exists. We have never
found anyone who would deny that
adultery was scriptural justifica-
ton for divorce. Even Catholics do
not deny that this is the teaching OF
Scripture, but they claim that an
-rnfafffDfe rope and COUNCIL have a
right to change the Scriptures to suit
themselves, which il goes without
saying they have not failed to do.
II would be infinitely better IL
Catholics would permit divorce in
stead of the satanic subterfuge of
disannulling marriage. For ex-
ample if Catholic has money and
wishes divorce, he may be lucky
enough TO get the Pope to declare
that his marriage was null and void.
This has been done on multiplied
occasions. The effect of declaring a
marriage null and void is to render,
In the eyes of the Roman church, the
children illegitimate, and to blast
the life of mother. But this is
small thing in the opinion of the
Pope. when properly approached by
one of the financially faithful.
Should the report which has been
recommended by the Committee on
Laws be granted by the Old Man of
the Sea- it will amount to what, in
law, is known as divorce from bed
and board. If Romanism was not
crime, it would be a joke
AS against this diatribe we take
the following from the Baptist
World, which sees no danger from
Catholic growth and progress:
Again one was impressed by the
exceedingly liberal and fraternal ex-
Dressions with regard to Protestants.
Not one slashing attack was made on
Professionalism. The Bishop of
Louisville, in his address of welcome,
was particularly liberal. One could
not avoid contrasting these utter /
ances with some of the things which !
are said In these and other lands
against Professionalism. The very
large place given to the discussion =
Of the social and economic questions
Df the day was impressive. The social
evil, the white slave traffic, child
labor. women in industry, short
hours and living wage, the rum
traffic, the low theater. all received i
and intelligent treatment. IL
was here that the Catholics showed
at their best. They are undoubtedly |
awake to the questions of the hour. |
II is doubtful II any Protestant body |
In the country has ever had at it's
annual meetings so thorough a dis
,ussion of these questions. Their :
for the service Of hu- !
manity is the Catholics strongest
point. So far as the addresses we're
reported in the papers, there was
not political utterance during the
meeting. The Governor OF Kentucky, |
m an excellent brief address, gave /
Expression and full emphasis TO the
doctrine of religious freedom, and
'oundly asserted that no man ought i
% be elected TO any position because
1f his religion. II these societies
lave any ulterior political purposes,
rs Is generally believed among Prot
sstants, they were carefully hidden
n Louisville. Their faith in their 4,
future and their missionary zeal
we're an inspiring example to us.
rhey intend to win America and fire.
luently and frankly said so. II is
o be through persuasion and service. a,
They have big ideas backed by great
.aith and zeal. Doubt and hesitation
10 not characterize the Catholic