Year: 1877

duties to society, from their point OF
view, is looked upon as. in some aspect
subject to church control 1t may then
well be doubted If any measure, after
receiving the highest sanction of the
Catholic Church, viii meet with any
serious opposition from any respectable
number of its members. II this reason
ing be correct, who will doubt, if man
date is issued by the church. that its
members will feel bound to obey it; and
why should they not, if, as they claim to
believe, every such mandate is from an
Iinfallible source.


This dogma of infallibility in the head
Of the Catholic Church, has excited more
apprehension and alarm against Catho-
icism in the United States than all other
causes combined. Every true believer
of this remarkable dogma will ask for no
other justification. let his act be what it
may, than that it meets the sanction and
approval ofthe great infallible head. He
is bound BY no obligation to his govern
ment where that obligation is in conflict
with his sense of obligation to the infal-
lible head Of his church. This is dan
gerous theory in any GOVERNMENT, and
is in conflict with, and subversive OF, all
civil governments-a theory that trans
fers all the obligations which are que
to their own, to perhaps hostile coun-
try, and makes them in sentiment and
feeling aliens to the country of their
birth or adoption BY the simple dicta
of Bishop Purcell and the organ which
he controls, the entire vote Of the Catho-
lie Church, l have reason to believe, was
cast for the Democratic party. Iregret
that such a result should have occurred.
! regret it not so much from the result
of our late election as from the fact that
men that have for years loved and re.
spected, should have so far stultified
themselves as to cast off all individuality
and be controlled by the mandate of an
assuming priestly dictator. Protestants,
and men like myself belonging to no
church, are not, in politics, governed by
any dictate except that of conscience.
Catholics, like Protestants and members
of no church, have heretofore voted as
their conscience, not their priest, direct
ed. Why at present, or of late, has this
reasonable rule of individual response
bility been departed from? The only
answer is that the Catholic Church
has otherwise denominated. With that
church theology is interlarded with pol
icy. From the Republican party Catho-
lies expect only fair and equal recogni-
ton. From the Democratic party they
hope for something more. The writer
Of this article is a friend of the Catholic
as well as all other churches, and would
regret to say ought, unwarranted, against
any of them; but in view of the position,
politically, in which the Catholic Church
has placed itself, feels justified in saying
that in mixing politics with theology
it has committed a blunder and an
error which years of atonement will
be required 10 efface. What would
be the consequence should the priests
or leading organs of any protestant
church in our country attempt to die
tate to the members of the church how
they should vote, or to what party they
should attach themselves? The conse-
quence would be that all thinking in
teligent members would scorn and de-
nOuuce the dictations. Strong party
feelings, and high political excitement
are often observable among members Of
all churches, and as consequence, weak
members sometimes indulge in'expres-
sions unwise and intolerznt. But these
are exceptions to a general rule, and are
overlooked and soon forgotten. q -.


In protestant Churches each member
subscribes to the rules, regulations and
theological tenets Of the church, TO which
he attaches himself, in all matters per-
tanning to the true mission Of the
church. Whether or not a member
may belong to one or another political
party, or to any other respectable organ
ization, outside Of the church and be-
yond its legitimate control, is question
for him to decide, and not to be determ-
ined by any religious organization what
ever. Ifa man by uniting with church,
loses his individuality, and is in all
things subject to the control Of the
church, then also should he lose his indi-
yidual responsibility, and whatever his
conduct may be, the church of which
ne is a member, should be held account


able for it. >


Ii is foreign from my purpose to say
aught against the Catholic Church.
Some of its members are among our
best citizens. They are men and wom-
en- that | always have, and do now es


TEEN. II is the unfortunate and objec-
tional tendency of the church sgaint
which Iprotest Ifpersevered in, it will
necessarily, or as a reasonable conse-
quence, array every protestant in our
country against the political party
to which the Catholics attach themselves


What could be more unfortunate,
Think for a moment what the conse-
quences would unavoidly be- A funda


mental principle of our government
would be completely undermined In
stead of politics pure, the only question
at the polls would be one Of church su-
premacy. Politicians may treat this
matter as they please, but if the sppar-
ent policy the Catholic Church is car
ried out BY it, few years will suffice to
prove that my predictions are not mere
chimera but are facts whichItoo soon. we
may be compelled to acknowledge.
That church and its influence are on
the wane in Europe, but in the same or
a greater measure isit gainiug influence
and importance in the United Statea
The multitude oflazaroni attached to it
are power, politically, in our country,
and by uniting all their influence with
one political party, are enabled to die


tate such terms Of interest as their
church may demand. Ofall the worth
less, vicious and vagabond members of
any church organization in our country
nine-tenths belong to the Catholic
| Church. do not affirm this in derora-