The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-11
Anent the Protestant
World

Last month a local news announcement indicated
the establishment of office in Columbus for the
purpose of promoting the national newspaper, The
Protestant World This publication AN Independent
Non-Sectarian Newspaper Designed to Serve the
Common Cause of All Professionalism" was inaugur-
ated last year with much fanfare and was origin
ally supposed to become a Protestant daily.
In these days when responsible people know of
the laxity of public morals, and when so many of
our citizens have little or religious belief it is
hesrtening to know that religious publication is
being promoted. Responsible journalism dedicated
to belief in God and principles of truth and justice,
cannot but help receive warm approval and
couragement. 1t can be hoped that ii would be pow
er for better harmony among citizens and for
stronger union against the evils of this day that are
endeavoring with might and main to destroy religion
and which, if successful would also destroy our
country.
However. it is disturbing TO recall that in ITS NO
vember 1st issue the Protestant World featured the
awful Disclosures OF Maria Monk" advertise
ment of the Gospel Art Shoppe of Roman Iowa
This temperance of the Monk Llbel brings back
recollections of the Know Nothngism" If the nine
teenth century and also the thought that sensation
alism is always popular, something not N accord
snee with reliable journalism.
The advertisement in question offered detailed
description of black nunnery the most terrible
revelations ever recorded Twenty great chap
ters log burning pages )" II has been
lis years since the emergence of Maria Monk and
her lurid tales OF "debauchery" at the Hotel Dieu
convent of Montreal. She repeated her initial rev
citations" with rapid follow-up entitled Further
Disclosures" which appeared in 1896 Dgent ed
itors of the day exposed her of the most
fragrant of impoSters, who had never been nun,
had never been convent or even pr0teSsed
to be a Catholic. Protestant citizens of Montreal
branded her as tragic hoax and affirmed, with
some delicscy that she was woman OF bad char
scter" who only too well known in the city
Historians have uniformly rejected he. lies and
have repeatedly buried her In infamy but The skele-
ton has now and again been ratified in The Bible
Belt" Now that the Protestant World which we
had hoped would be a reputable journal, has accept
ed the ad mentioned 1t would that this is bat
another disgracefu episode in the mo holds barred"
times in which we are passing
Suffice it TO say that Catholic are
known 10 the whole world, reyerenced and respected
for the quality of their work both in the field of
education and of mercy Their institutions a
great credit TO this nation. Their converts
sibe TO all; they not dark and mysterious places
The nuns will welcome visitors They have work 10
do, and do not wish to be unduy disturbed in doing
It, but they will be only too happy TO see sincere
people who wish to know and see their life.
In view OF what our nuns are doing throughout
the whole world work that is known to all it is
believabe that journal aiming at being accepted
nationally respectable and reliable, would stoop
10 besmirch them even by using one true example of
default, let alone an already disproyed hoax.