Glasgow Courier. — 1847-12-25 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DEPPIINCIATIONS FROM THE ALTAR IN IRELAND. 11, Carlton Terrace, London, Friday, Nov. 26, 1847. My Lord Archbishop,—l must eiltreat your Grace to forgive me for the liberty I ant taking in addressing you. My acquaintance with the high character your Grace bears, as well as your exalted position in the Irish Church, emboldens me to lay before you the grief which heavily oppresses me as a faithful son of the Holy Catholic Church. I ion deeply sensible of the claims which the Irish Church has to the love and admiration of the Christian world. History relates the heroic constancy with which the Irish Catholics have endured the relentless persecution and bitter scorn of these who claimed religious lilier y for themselves and denied it to their unhappy brethren. With the knowledge of suoh sufferings endured for the faith, how bitter it ia to my heart that I cannot defend the Irish Church in my intercourse with my, friends, or against the attacks of violent opponents in the House of Commons. It is not of the fearful crime of murder by individuals of the peasantry that I wish to speak, however shocking such cold-blooded revenge appears to those at a distance; nor do I wish to notice the frequent connivance of the peasantry In the escape of the assassin. It is not so difficult to make excuses for 13101 in their circumstances. But that which completely overpowers me, and deprives me of all defence, is the conduct of some members of the priesthood. Denunciations from the altar followed by the speedy death of the denounced, and public speeches of most dangerous tendency to an inflammatory people, are the melancholy accusations to which I am unable to reply. lf I assert the small number of the clergy who have recourse to such means of obtaining or retaining influence, I am Immediately asked—Where then is the boasted discipline of the Catholic Church? How is it that men so imprudent, if not so wicked, are not suspended from their spiritual functions? I sum told that either virtue or discipline is banished from the Church. If I assert the primitive custom of the Church, the public penance, and the maternal admonition of the pastor, delivered in the preisence of the people, the reply is, why denounce those not subject to your discipline? And why make use of such dangerous methods in a country which has not forgotten the crimes engendered by cruel persecution and consequent despair? Oh, my Lord, it is indeed severe to feel the justice of such remarks—not the remarks, be it observed, of thoughtless and uncharitable men, but of those whose best feelings would willingly seek for all that is pious an.' good in the Catholic faith. These are the topics which I venture as a humble and faithful member of the Church to bring under your Grace's notice. Can nothing be done to remove from us so heavy a scandal? What comfort and security would he brought to many a confiding Catholic by the spe..idy and stern censure of ecclesiastical diecipline upon the offenders I The fierce declamations of Exeter Hall, and all the vehemence of Parliamentary opponents, and all the freedom of Protestant assertion, have not done so much injury to the cause of the Catholic faith in this ccuittry as these unhappy circumstances. And now, my Lord Archbishop, it is my duty to beseech your forgiveness for tiny great boldness, which anxiety for the Church has alone prompted. I entreat your Grace's benediction, and have the honour to be, with every feeling of the deepest respect, your Grace's very humble, faithful, aid obedient servant, To his Grace the Archbishop of Team, St. Jarlath, Tuam.