The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-11-18

Naaae AeANeN NAAAAAtAANA VI AANuuANlllhl
Rome's contempt for the principles
and practices Of democracy as voiced
by Bishop B. J. Kelley, we see the
old intolerance to any law the pso-
pie see ft 10 enact which tends to
place the Roman church on an equal
footing with other churches, or
which provides that the democratic
theory OF government, as il relates
to the rights Of the state TO protect
the weak and defenseless ones from
possible oppression, abuse, or out
rage Of any kind, shall apply to
Rome as well as the other great re-
ligious communions such as the
Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
Christian OF other churches.
II Rome did not today hold to
the theory so BADLY and truthfully
put by pope Boniface VIII in his
famous Bull, IMAM SGHetdm, she
would have yielded TO the orderly
enforcement Of law pending her
appeal to the supreme courts Of
state and nation.
No Protestant church in America
would think Of resisting a law
pending appeal. Indeed, we know
Of no class in America excepting the
un-American and essentially mon
archidl Roman hierarchy which
would thus insolently defy a great
commonwealth, while the nature Of
the legislation in question is such
that this defiance throws into bold
relief the essentially lawless spirit
Of the representatives Of the sover-
eign on the Tiber. The Vedley ldw
merely turns on the light in the in
terest Of defenSeless Women and
helpless children, and il Rome has
nothing to conceal, il her Houses Of
Good Shepherd and converts are
what she pretends this legislation
will be Of great benefit to her. The
fact that she thus dares TO place
herself with the lawless or criminal
classes IS presumptius eUideHce that
she knoUs the charges against her
institutions are true. Is not this
fear Of investigation a confession of
guilt?
Is Rome Above State Law7
Rome, however, in theory and so
far as she has dared to 90 in prac-
tice, has always held and sought to
enforce the claim that the Roman
church is above civil government,
and the civil arm must be subserv-
lent to the hierarchy or be resisted,
and in strict conformity to this we
find Bishop Kelley defying the legis-
lature Of Georgia and the law Of
that commonwealth as will be seen
from the following statement pub
lished in the Savannah Morning
NsuS Of October 81.
That the Catholic church in Georgia
will resist the enforcement Of the VeaEey,
law, which provides for grand jury in
spection Of schools, converts, orphanages
and homes where dependent persons are
taken care Of, is shown by letters which
Bishop Benjamin J. Kelley Of the Diocese
Of Savannah has Just sent out.
While Bishop Kelley, acting upon ad.
vice Of counsel, takes the position that
the Neazey law Is unconstitutional be
docs not arbitrarily close the door Of the
institutions under his jurisdiction in the
face Of the Investigators What he does
do is TO invite one Cisit from gruad
jurors IN each county IN Uhich there Is
sHck an instiiutioH.
THIS INVITATION MUST BE
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, HOW.
EVER, DURING THE FIRST TERN
OF COURT AFTER THE INVITA-.
TION HAS BEEN EXTENDED,
OTHERWISE THE DOORS WILL b.
LOCKED WHEN THE INvESTIGA.
TORS CALL, unless their action has been
] Ttihed by a decision of the state su.
pDcme court bearing upon the question Of
the eonstitutionality Of the Veazey act
which was passed at the recent session of
the legislature.
No second visit viii be permitted, and
20 see that this ultimatum Is carried out
BishOp Kelley has written an ofieiAl let