The menace., 1917-07-21
THE GREAT CONFLICT
IN MASSACHUSETTS
The Lomasney-Curtis Dodge
Rome's Attempt to Side-Track
the Anderson Amendment

bHO IhihOl oVu TIuVUhlNOHk
The anti-sectariAn issue which has beeI
for years the meal ticket Of many o religion
direliet and political misht h again doini
duty In Massachusetts, politics. Its introdue
tion Into the Constitutional Convention prom
ises 10 make things as lively In that body n
the Ulsterites In the Irish Convention. 1t II
of little use to argue with this bigoted ant
intolsrant element THAT CAN ONLY BE
SATISFIED WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THIS COUN
TRY. a,lH
If the above paragraph taken from
that heavily laden, June 26th issue Of
the Roman Catholic organ, The
Hiber7idn, represents the sentiments
of the Catholic church in this country,
then Rome should have read the con-
stitution Of the United States before
getting so heavily involved.
The anti-sectarian amendment in
Massachusetts, has for its sole purpose
the object Of excluding every denonl-
nation from the privilege Of in any
way participating in the public funds.
1t is a measure that has the virtue of
being in absolute harmony tOith the
principle Of divorce of church and
state as set forth in our constitution
and which is so vital to Liberal De-
mocracy and SO Objectionable to
Rome. Now if, as the Hibernian in
fers, the church would come to de-
struction by the enactment of this
legislation 1t is her fault for being
here and taking such a risk as she
has under a flag where the people are
sovereign and the state constitutional
ly divorced from the church.
II the earlier promoters Of Roman
ism In this country were not aware
Of this part Of our constitution it is
simply because they did not read it.
That the present day Romanists are
fighting directly or indirectly to null
hfy this fundamental principle of our
organic law proves that they are in
antagonism to the Federal Constitu-
ton and the Liberal Democracy that
has been so tolerant and generous
toward them. True the principle of
supreme sovereignty Of the people
which is one of the chief distinguish
ing glories of this republic and which
is definitely provided for in our con-
stitution was sweepingly condemned
by Leo XIII In his ex cathedra
utterance denouncing the French re-
public when 1t followed The example
of the United States and divorced
church and state; furthermore, 1t is
also true that not only the doctrine
Of separation of church and state IN
any land where Catholics are DOM
inant has been definitely condemned
by the last three popes but they have
also condemned in their ex cathedra,
and therefore to Romanists infallible,
utterances, freedom Of speech, press
and assembly as well as non-sectarian
education and yet all of these are
either vital provisions Of our Federal
Law or recognized bulwarks Of free
democracy.
No other church in America is rails
Ing the cry that the passage of an
Rnti-sectarian amendment Is a deadly
blow to their existence and neither is
any church, excepting the Roman
Catholic, so frantically trying to Sc
cure political dominance in order that
the laws Of the land may be changed
10 suit its convenience.
Another Of the fundamental govern
mental propositions where the papal
theory Of rule and that Of liberal
democracy are in sharp and deadly
conflict is the principal Of sectdridn
fdVoritism on the part Of the govern
ment.
Our theory of rule demands equal
rights for all religious faiths and
special privilege to none. Our consti-
tuition provides for absolute divorce of
church and state. All churches in
America, save that of the political
Roman Catholic hierarchy frankly ac-
cept and bow to the American theory
aud the constitutional provision of the
United States. ..
Rome today is receiving millions
upon millions of dollars annually for
sectarian institutions in defnance of
the principle of absolute separation of
church and state and in some in
stances IN defiance of the specific state
constitutional provisions tOhich forbid
the appropriation Of public money for
sectaridn institutions. This is notably
the case in Pennsylvania. In Massa-
chusetts there has been for many
years a general demand on the part
of the people for a specific constitu-
tional prohibition which would render
1t impossible for Rome to get her
greedy hands into the public treasury.
The Roman Catholic political ma
chine has heretofore successfully been
able to prevent the people having the
privilege of voting upon this question.
At the late election, however, the
voice Of the people was too unmistak-
able to render open and frank opposi-
ton longer possible, so we find the
Romanist Lomasney adopting a
familiar Jesuitical dodge and intro
ducing cunningly framed proposed
amendment which lacks the clarity of
thought Of Prof. Anderson's amend
snent and was introduced, in all prob
ability, so as to pave the 1Uay for an
other measure IDhich 1t Uds doubtless
planned by the politicians of the Peui-
tier stripe to later Introduce as a COM
promise measure by a non-Romanist.
Everything has been worked accord
ing to the approved methods of the
professional politicians who have been
long accustomed to following Rome's
lead fearing the boycott or desiring
TO secure the solid papal vote.
Thus in The hope OF side-trackino
The Andera0n amendment n,,d MINI, I,