Catholic Pilgrimage to Rome

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 30, 1906

Catholic Pilgrimage to Rome

Very frequently we read of a pilgrimage to Rome made by some party of American Catholics conducted by some Catholic bishop. On July 31 such a company of pilgrims was conducted to the Vatican by the Right Rev. Henry Gabriels, bishop of Ogdensburg, N. Y. At the audience granted by the pope Bishop Gabriels read an address in which he said Catholicism was making rapid strides in the United States, due to the complete freedom which the church enjoyed, and the good will of the American civil authorities. Bishop Gabriels quoted President Roosevelt as saying to him, on learning that the bishop was to conduct a pilgrimage to Rome:—

Tell the pope that I send him my profound regards. I have tried to treat Protestants and Catholics alike, as my latest appointments show. I will try to perpetuate this policy. This republic will stand for many a century. I expect that there will be Catholic presidents as well as Protestant. I trust that they all will treat each other as I have tried to do.

Whether or not there shall be Catholic presidents, there is no doubt that Rome will seek to use the presidents that are elected, as well as all other government officials, to the greatest possible extent in furthering her ends. In view of the bishop’s declaration that the church now has the good will of the American civil officials, one is led to question the necessity for the great and growing Federation of Catholic Societies, whose avowed purpose is to see that the Catholic Church shall secure and maintain its rights in this country. If the Catholic Church does not have its rights at the present time, what mean the bishop’s words regarding the complete freedom which the church enjoys here? Is it greater rights than the other churches enjoy which she wishes? Or is she denied her “rights” in not being allowed to deny others their rights? We are inclined to believe that this is the condition which is most obnoxious to the Church of Rome. We know that where she has full power, she exercises that “right” to the very limit, and refuses to grant to others in such countries what she demands for herself in this.