The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-05
POLITICS AND RELIGION.

surely is the land of the free. For
have we not been taught that the
age of bigotry has passed away
forever; that the reigns Of relig-
iOus persecution and terrorism
have become as mere specks in
the twilight of history; that the
fairmindedness Of the average
American citizen of the present
day is of such a type and virility
that it essentially excludes any
thing bordering on or suggestive
of narrow tenets in politics and
religion? Ii this be a true boast
founded on fact, then shall we be
obliged to conclude that there are
in our midst, posing as American
citizens, some Of the remnants of
the Reign of Terror, or rather
mental degenerates and derelicts
dating from the reign of the good
(save the word) Queen Bess.
Up to the past few years Catho-
lies in America have allowed
themselves to be swayed by false
timidity, that has proven deleter-
ious to the best interests of re-
ligion. And yet, no other creed
in the world today has such a
glorious and brilliant past as has
the Catholic Church. She has
withstood the most furious on
slaughts of the heretics, the en-
perors, the pagans of all ages.
What the heavy doctrinal artillery
of the Arians found impregnable
has been boldly assailed by the
puny representatives Of the i'm
pure, arch-enemy of morality
Martin Luther. Each armed with
his formidable beanshooter, these
loyal followers of the spoiler of
the cloister and the paramour Of
a poor, weakminded, faithless
nun, assemble from time to time
and amuse themselves by attack
ing the imperishable rock upon
which Christ founded his Church.
This seems to be favorite pas
time with many denominations.
Their conferences are enlivened
by bitter invective hurled at the
Catholic Church. 1t is a bad bust
mes principle to try to sell your
wares by attacking your COM
petitor; for your competitor may
be obliged to defend himself by
telling the truth, and thus putting
you to shame. So with us. Ere
quently we are obliged to waive
the amenities of peaceful contro-
versy, and to tell our revilers
what we think Of them. Patience
is a virtue; passivity is often a
fault.
Now, in the name of common
sense and decency, are we con-
tinually to stand the sarcasm, the
sneers, the "proud mans con-
tumely," the unwarranted bigotry
of a number of narrow minded
enemies of logic and justice? Shall
we stand passively by and listen
patiently to the hoarse rantings
of an aggregation of fatuous,
raucous, vacuous upstairs? In
point of numbers, of purity of doc
trine, Of antiquity, of holiness, of
Saints, what creed on American
soil today can bear comparison
with the Catholic Church? The
Jews, the Buddhists, the Chinese
we recognize at least as ancient,
and in a way, tolerable co-work-
ers in the field Of religion. But
these upstairs, who are they? Dis
affected members of the great
body of Christendom, like dead
branches, the Catholic Church
cast them aside a few centuries
ago; and here they are today
standing before us with all the
grotesque awkwardness of a gal
vanized automaton. They stalk
about as the monster in Franken-
stein, possessing no real life, but
a kind of chemical action that
somewhat resembles natural life
and vigor.
We realize that many Of our
fellow citizens are sincere In their
belief, though that belief differ
from our own. With them we
have no quarrel: we respect them
But is there no way for them to
stop the mouthings of certain
coterie of featherbrained mem
bers of their ministry? Mental
lightweights in the arena of re
ligion are entirely out of place
when there is question of actual
combat. But a week ago the
breezes from the head of the lakes
waited down to our fair city the
pulling of an imbecile voice, telling
the world that the trouble with
the Catholic Church is that It's
ministers mingle too much in
politics. The American is essen
tally a humorist, and the above
l. v tried to add to the gaiety of
nations by contributing his mite to
the grand ensemble IN the School