The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-11-30
A PAUL|S1 FATHER
RAPS MISSIONARY
A Stern Rebuke to Clerical Liars
Who Appeal for Funds for South
American Missions.
The Old Stories Told of the Clergy
in Every Country of the World
But Little Known.
The Missionary in Question Says
Horrible things OF the Church
and Omlts Names.

AT ST. Francis xavicr's Church,
Brooklyn, the Rev. John L. Barney,
of the Paulst Fathers, commented on
the address delivered by the Rev. j.
e. Mccm before the Women's AuNil-
iary of the Board of Missions OF the
Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. He
held iii his hand a summary OF that
lecture and quoted it as saying that
Mr.. Mcem did not tell what his church
had done in Brazil, but confined him.
self to a bitter attack on the Cath
olic clergy of that country.
"-rhis," said Father Barney, lis Il
favoritc theme of Protestant missions
aries when they come to the United
States to collect funds for their So
Catholic lands. They harp on the
immortality of the Catholic clergy and
people. They tell us it is fearful and
widespread. This man has been in
Brazil. He intimates that he has done
missionary work there. He wants to
replenish his Golfers to do more of
the same sort of work. SO he comes
with his tale Of priestly immortality.
Another charge is that the people Of
Brazil are without the Bible, and.
worse than that, are without spiritual
guidance. One might ride for day
or longer on horseback without find
ing any place in which one could re-
ceive spiritual ministration in some
parts of Brazil.
Lest you think that these parts
of Brazil are densely populated-that
great crowds Of men and women have
no one to teach to them the Word
OF Life, let me tell you the experience
OF Caspar Whitney, who travelled
many hundreds of miles through
Brazil along the Rio Negro, one of
the great highways of travel. He
without coming upon even fair-sized
villages, seeing only miserable ham,
let's Of two or three tumble down
dwellings. No doubt Mr.. Meem could
ride for day in many parts of Brazil
without seeing a Catholic church or
priest. He could also ride for days
without finding people to be taught.
An Old Story.
what he has to say OH the other
subject is not new to us nor to you.
1t is all old, old story, told again and
again by Protestant missionaries Of
almost every brand, about the Cath
olic clergy, not merely of Brazil, but
also OF Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Spain
in the days before it was widely
Travelled, and almost every other coun-
try in the world of which We have
little knowledge. His charges prompt
us to ask a few questions. How is
it that the scene of these stories is
always laid in out-of-the-way and
little Travelled countries? Why not in
the United States, Ireland, England,
france. Germany? Why is it that we
are not referred to the great cities,
in the present case to Rio de Janeiro,
Bahia, Sac Paulo, Pernambuco? How
does it come to pass that these wick
ed priests nearly always live in un-
known towns and almost inaccessible
hamlets? Further and more serious
ly, why is it that Mr.. Meem and men
of his ilk deal in vague, hazy, general,
Indefinite charges? Have they facts
to tell? Are they sure of them? Why,
then, do they not give names of per-
sons and places? Why do they not
make specific charges against definite
individuals? This man says that the
vicar in one of the large towns is liv-
ing openly with wife and famil'.
Specific Information Demanded.
''Why does he not name the town
and man? He asserts not only tha,
many priests lead immoral lives. "ut
also that their bishops connive at
their wickedness. Who are the
priests? Who are the bishops?
"He does not give facts because he
has few, If any, to give. The grounds
on which he rests his sweeping
charges afe rumors. reports. hearsay
talk; calumnies. He does not dare to