The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-07

or are all on account of the religion of
 our Roman Catholic neighbors. Nothing
 IS further from the truth. That men
 nave a sacred right to their religious
 convictions is clear and unquestioned,
 ana that they have and should have the
 privilege of worshipping God in any way
 pieaslng to themselves. so long as their
 practice does not interfere with the
 rights of others, shall forever defend.
 But surely pr. Edmonds knows that
 tnis IS apart from the real controversy.
 IHe question in the minds of millions
 ol Anerlcans today is not whether this
 or that rehslon is to be tolerated Peo-
 pie Ill thls country practice their particu-
 lar forms Of religion as sacred right.
 not simply because the other crowd tol-
 crate them. No, this is not the disturb
 Ing question just now The question
 now is whether or not the Roman Cath
 olic hierarchy or any other ecclesiastical
 organisation shall usurp the functions of
 CIVIL government in this country.
 That there is we'll defined movement
 among Roman Catholics to make Amer
 lea catholic" is manifest. The utterances
 Of the Catholic press in the United States
 leave no room for doubt on this point.
 ne success Of the movement, if it means
 anything, means the esta blishment of the temporal power of the Roman pontiff in
 this country and the setting aside of more
 than one of our most cherished princi-
 pies of government
 There are those who will deny that Catholics owe allegiance in temporal mat
 ters to the pope. The Sunday Visitor
 and MT Coyle will deny it. In seeking TOT the truth of the matter we shall fol- low the advice of Dr. Edmonds and "in- Vesugate Roman Catholic authorities ]"
 Let Dr. Edmonds do likewise. If he
 would know what the authorities" have
 to say as to the pope's claim to temporal power, let him secure from MT Coyles S supply house on Third avenue a copy of a little book called the "Question Box" This is an authority. Compiled and arranged by the Rev. Bertrand L. Com
 way of the Paulist Fathers and approved |hoy Cardinals Farley and Gibbons. Let
 him read on page 3G0 this sentence:
 The temporal power of the pope is
 necessary for the perfect freedom and
 independence of the Holy See Once
 admit the doctrine of the primacy-that
 the pope is the head of the universal church-and it follows logically that the pope to be free to teach and guide his entire flock, ought not to be subject to any power outside himself"
 ANOWt IL ScSIHS LO He that the temporal allegiance of all Roman Catholics is n- volved in this claim of temporal power land the question of whether or not this or that individual Catholics yields to and acknowledges this allegiance does not matter So long IS the "authori- ties' make this absurd claim we are convinced that our liberties and our insti- tutions are safer in protestant hands. Just how far this claim is pressed is Ch fr, 11ffa Of s-I-1 -c Newport, England in q pastoral letter of 1912
 There is at least one principle which may be laid down for the guidance of Catholics in this country, as everywhere else. The church has a right to intervene even in practical politics, and when she speaks Catholics are bound to obey (Mr.
 Edmonds should take notice here,) "To contend that the bishops may only pro- nounce upon abstract questions, and not authorta lively direct their flocks to sup port or oppose a concrete and definite measure, or to vote for or against an ex- isting party at an election, is to paralyze the church's arm.''
 In addition to these and many other utterances of like nature from popes, bishops and priests, we have a record of high handed outrages against our Amer ican institutions and laws, perpetrated Dy dStHlS dIlo OlSdlilAuliOiiS oA ttlC nv man hierarchy. The wild stories" re- ferred to by pr. Edmonds have but little to do with this anti-Catholic movement Facts, plain clear cut facts, with porten- Itious significance confront us. They will lnot down. No amount of side-stepping or of caustic criticism will silence the growing dscontent. The fight is on in good earnest and will stay on until pa triotic Americans are satisfied that the fz 1oct ho nj rJIlA in America. If Roman Catholics want to practice their religion under the Stars and Stripes, let them. But they must keep their hands off of that flag. We are resolved that no ecclesiastical or ganization, foreign or domestic, shall ever appropriate to it's own exclusive use this emblem of religious and political lib- erty.
 We believe we are patriotic Americans and that our patriotism should not be questioned when we insist upon America for Americans and religious and politica, liberty for all The cry of religious per secution comes with poor grace from this institution which even now denies re- ligious liberty to all who differ from them lin every country where their power IS supreme Dr. Edmonds knows and every student of history knows that the rec ord of the Roman Catholic church on
 this subject is most unsavory. To them
 religious liberty is good only for Cath
 olics. All others are "heretics' and out
 side of the pale of true Christianity. And lyet we are told to dwell with Catho- lilies in Christian unity" Ye gods and little fishes!
 MT. Editor, there is much more to be said, but I shall not tax your patience. I had resolved to have no more to say in the public press for the present on this subject but dear pr. Edmonds provokes me. Yours truly, R. l.. DURANI. Pratt City, February B. 1917