Evening star., 1926-02-17
CURLEY DEN0UNCES
MEXICO IN SPEECH
Archbishop Also Takes Issue
With Bishop Freeman on
Duty to Laws.

knights of Columbus or the Catholic
Church are interested in politics or
desire the union of Church and State,
but reserve the right to protest i'm
proper laws and an outrage against
human decency." Archbishop Curley
of Baltimore denounced the action of
Mexico against Catholics, and took is
sue with a recent speech of Bishop
James f. Freeman, speaking last
night at the annual dinner at the
New Willard of the Washington
knights of Columbus.
AS Archbishop Curley denounced
the attitude Of Mexico toward Catho-
lies and the Catholic Church. approx
ina tely 400 members of the order
leaped to their feet and cheered. after
ward voting una nimously to hold
mass meeting of protest against the
Mexican government tomorrow night
or Sunday.
Calls Statement Foolish.
Quoting the recent speech by Bishop
Freeman made at a banquet last Fri
day, in which he said lit is not our
business to question the law the
maker: it is our business to obey"
Archbishop Curley, while not men
tioning Bishop Freeman's name, de-
clared
mo more foolish statement has
been made. Such a condition is not
true in any free country under any
form of government.
IF this were true il would follow
that small group could make laws,
and the laws would have TO be re-
garded by the 1l0,0oO.Oo0 people here
as stainless and infallible.
q IF this statement were true then
Catholics We're wrong in opposing the
h,n 1., oh hau
bowed To that because it was law. II
this statement We're true then the
Catholics and bishops in Mexico
should be silent when they are per-
secuted by law"
Laws are a safeguard and not a
destroyer Of liberty laws are esSe ntial
to society. but 1t does not follow that
every law is just and right, it does
not follow that American citizens have
no right to protest or speak their
minds
Hits Dishonesty of Speech
Declaring that what is needed most
of all today Is patriotism with honesty
honesty of thinking and honesty of
talking" Archbishop Curley deplored
a dishonesty of speech in which men
Say one thing and mean another.
Men are afraid TO speak out their
There are times when We must
speak ont when ii is our duty to pro
test and To condemn what is wrong no
matter who may he offended" de-
clared the speaker.
You may imagine ] am going TO
speak to YOU of certain law. | am not.
will speak Of that when the proper
time comes. declared Archbishop
Curley in protesting the present inn
migration laws. Il am Nordic. but
there are superior Nordics nd inferior
Nordics. There are in the people of
Southern Europe superior and in
ferior qualities. The Italian people
and race have contributed more TO
the culture and refinement of civili-
Zation than any other people" de
ella red the speaker, who said that the
present immigra ton law was based
on an ''idiotic fallacy.'
Urges Catholic Rights.
Urging the members of the knights
OF Columbus to stand on their rights
as American citizens and Catholics.
Archbishop Curley then launched in
a denunciation of "a well-gauged and
well-regulated warfare against the
faith" in Mexico.
Deploring the fact that catholic
sisters were apportioned to the Car
! rama soldiers" and other "outra ges.
the speaker condemned the present at
titIde on the part of the Mexican gov.
ernment-
Eternal yigilence is the price we
paN COR liberty even in "A republic.
he said Catholics in America stand
for their country. they stand for their
God nd they stand for their God given
rights. If they don't there will be no
rights to guard.
I
When a law violates mans God
given rights ii is no law. When il
takes away mans God given rights il
is a violation of our charter of liberty
our Constitution. The Catholic
Church and the knights of Columbus
are not in politics. They are against
the unity of church and state. but
the need of today is honesty of eX-
preston and honesty of action
He urged the transfer of the head
quarters of the Knights of Columbus,
representing 100000 men, from New
Haven. Conn, to Washington. The
motion to protest to the Mexican gov
ernment was made by Charles W.
Darr. and Mr.. Darr and James A
sullivan. state deputy of the District,
will arrange the meeting.
Organizations Growth Shown.
Supreme Kni4ht James A. Fla
herty head of the order, outlined the
growth of the organization and its
spread to other countries. He re-
counted it's work during the war, and
its record and achievement in the
service of the country.
DR.. Henry j. Crosson, past state
deputy of the District. was toast
master. An entertainment program
was provided by George O'Connor,
Matt Horne. Bernard Fitzgerald. Ar
thur McCreight, George Cowles and
the McWilliams Orchestra.
The local officers of the Knights OF
Columbus in charge were James A.
Sullivan. state deputy: Thomas j.
Fitzgerald, district deputy; William
G.. Feely. district deputy; James T.
Ryan. chairman. Washington Chap
ter; Charles l. Griffith. faithful navi-
gator. Fourth Degree: J. Eugene Gal
lerv. grand knight, Washington
Council: John f. Burns, grand
knight. keane Council: James Il.
Flvnn. grand knight. Carroll Coun-
ell: Thomas ]. Trodden. grand
knight. Spalding Council: Michael ID.
Schaefcr. grand knight, Potomac