The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-26
LONDON PRELATE POINTS OUT
CHANGES THAT HAVE RESULT
ED DISASTRoUsLY TO SOCIETY
AND RELIGION.

At the recent Fourth National Con-
gress held at Plymouth, England, Car
dinal Bourne delivered a striking ad-
dress on the prevailing Indifference in
matter of religion. We subjoin the
principal parts of the original address
which was very long.
1t has become trite and common
place saying among us that the posi-
ton of Catholics in the eyes of their
fellOw-countryme is very different
from what it once was. They are no
longer looked at askance, except by a
few ultra-fanatics; they are generally
given credit, at least, for good inten-
tions; they are treated on public occa-
sionS with a courtesy and considera-
ton of which we are having a notable,
but by no means exceptional, example
on this occasion of our Congress in
this historic town. When we ask our
selves how comes it that there is this
change in public opinion, and endeavor
to discover the underlying causes of
so marked an alteration of attitude,
we can find many concurrent forces
which have together resulted in pro-
ducing a greatly improved situation.
Causes of liberation.
In the first place, men have come to
understand better our real purpose
and aims. They see that, whatever
our religious views may be, we have,
at least no less than other men, the
welfare of our country at heart; that,
now when the opportunity is more
freely allowed to us, we are glad and
ready to serve the nation to the best
of our ability; and that, though in
things spiritual we believe that Christ
has set up a supreme jurisdiction apart
from and transcending all distinctions
of nationality, we are in things tenn
poral second to none in loyal obedi
ence and allegiance to the sovereign
of this land. Again, they have come
to recognize that, whatever we may
believe, we hold lawful place among
our fellows, that our claim to all the
rights of citizenship is as good and in
contestable as the claim of any others;
and, with their characteristic instinct
of fair play, when it is not obscured
by prejudice, they are glad to make
an end not only of every enactment
but of every remnant or memory o.
religious disability. Then men know
the history of the past more accuratel!
and more generally than it was known
even by experts, century or evel
fifty years ago. Judgments taken al
infallibie have been revised, and tht
revision has told in the eyes of homes
men very greatly to our advantage.
All these varied grounds for ou
changed position in the opinion O
others are surely matters of very grea
satisfaction; but they do not stant
alone. If we are no longer hated sus
poets, if we receive credit for good in
tentions, if our cooperation is in
vited and made welcome in every fell
of public life, it is very largely becaus
men have ceased to attach any i'm
portance to religious truth. Such say
ings as, "One religion is as good a
another" 1T does not matter what yo1
believe SO long as you do what i
right" and the like, represent the rea
mind of enormous numbers of thos
who dwell in England today. Ono
such sayings are generally accepte
as a true summary of mans mos
intimate convictions, it would indee
be illogical were he to exclude froI
his good will and welcome of fellow
ship anyone whomsoever merely o.
account of difference in religious be
lief. And so it has come to pass tha
all alike-Jew, Mohammedan, and il
fidel, Protestant of every degree, an
Catholic along with them-must be rt
garded as having an equal place i
the social and public consideration c
the nation. In other words, the pri1
ciples accepted in the sixteenth Gel
tury have had their logical const
quence, unforeseen and not suspecte
, when they were adopted, yet all tn
while silently working to their nece
sary result. We hold new positio
today, in so many ways pleasing an
advantageous to us, not in virtue {
the faith which we profess, but b
cause it matters not at all nowaday
whether we believe or not.
Indifferentism Resulting from the
Reformation"
This, | have said, is a consequent
of the religious upheaval of three hui
dred and fifty years ago which the
was not foreseen. Few will den
that so long as England RENAME
attached to the centre of unity, tt
See of Rome, the possession OF r
ligious truth was of paramount IN
- portance in the eyes of Englishme
They believed, as we believe, tn;
Christ came into the world to teaC
men truth, about God, about ther
selves, about their relations to &C
who made them; and that Christ cor
mitted the handing on and safeguar
ing of this His truth to His ChurC
which was one and could not be &
vided; and that over this Church +
had set, mainly for the preserving
the truth, a chief to represent Him
the person of st. Peter and his su
cessors. Men desired in those da!
religious truth: they believed that the
could securely find it, and they di
liked and resisted those who thres
ened to dispute or disturb their pc
session of it. Most men will agr,
that this statement represents q
curately in outline the religious mil
of England from its conversion
Christianity until the appearance