The Catholic National Federation
By L. A. S.
MUCH space was devoted in New York papers recently to a great meeting in that city in the interests of the Catholic National Federation. Archbishop Farley presided, and many prominent Catholics were on the platform. There was “great enthusiasm,” etc. The orators of the meeting, of whom W. Bourke Cockran was most prominent, took particular pains to affirm that the federation had no connection with politics. At the same time certain objects of the federation were set forth which can not possibly be attained through other than political channels. A report of the meeting states:— The objects of the federation, according to its president, T. B. Minahan, are to agitate the question of sectarian schools, and to receive proper recognition for Catholics along many lines. Under the head of religious objects the federation groups the questions of education through Catholic schools and universities, literature and emigration, homes for Catholic sailors, etc. Among social questions, the labor problem and the question of divorce are made the most prominent, while under civil questions the religious rights of Catholics, taxation of church property, and protection of Catholic civic rights are made prominent. All of the speakers dwelt upon the fact that opposition to the federation had been made on the ground that it might be projected into politics. This was vehemently denied, and on this question Archbishop Farley said:— “The moment that occurs, the federation sounds its own death knell. That moment my approbation will be immediately withdrawn.” In his speech W. Bourke Cockran said:— “The objects of the federation can be gathered under three great heads. Briefly these are, first, questions which only Catholics realize; second, questions which only Catholics can remedy; and, finally, questions which neither Catholic nor Protestant has solved. “The first question comes in the form of hostility to Christian instruction, and yet the state says it is necessary for its own safety to instruct its youth in questions of morality. “The cry is for non-sectarian education. There is no such thing. The school must be either Christian or anti-christian, and if it is non-sectarian, it is anti-christian. “It has been said by eminent ecclesiastics and thinkers that divorce must be regulated. The Catholic goes further. He says it must be stopped. “How wise, most opportune, and worthy of this federation it would be if in the name of the purity and sanctity of the American home, all classes and all creeds might be brought to crystallize into law some statute that would wipe out forever the blighting, corroding curse of the institution of divorce.” Mr. Cockran violently combated the political idea in conjunction with the federation. Politics and the church, he said, had nothing in common. Politics deals with multitudes, while the church deals with souls and individuals. All this means that the power of this federation is to be used to secure legislation. The papal policy in this country aims at having the laws and institutions of the nation patterned after the ideals of the church. This will mean the appropriation of public funds for Catholic schools and the exemption of all Catholic church property from taxation. The church aims also to control the great industrial problem of the relations between capital and labor, and would be pleased to see her tenets on the subject of divorce embodied in a general law of the land. All this would give the Catholic Church great prestige. Any connection with politics, in the sense of constituting a new political party or of an alliance with some one party against others, is to be carefully avoided; but not in the sense of influencing all parties through the political power which the federation represents. As a special party or as allied with a special party, the federation would be comparatively harmless. But as a quiet dictator to both the leading political parties of the country, while apparently standing aloof from the political arena, this great religious combine will be able to have things very largely its own way. And the leaders of the federation have just this in view. L. A. S.