Irish Priest Rebels Against Rome in New York
There is a quiet little rebellion in an unexpected quarter against the arrogant claims of the Church of Rome; and strangely enough it has broken out among Irish Catholics. Father McNamara, an Irish priest, is its leader. He has a mission on Water street in this city (New York), and there he proposes to establish an Irish National Church. He says, and with truth, that the Italian hierarchy controls the church for political purposes; that the pomp and magnificence of Rome are contrary to the spirit of the humble babe of Bethlehem; that its influence is opposed to the teachings of the early church; and that the pope’s assumption of infallibility was an affront to God. He insists that Irish Catholics must look to the cross of Calvary and not to the Vatican. This bold reformer stands on true and scriptural ground, but we fear there is little hope that he can bring his countrymen to his platform, as there are no more infatuated and subservient adherents of the imperious and heretical dogmas of Rome than are the Irish Catholics.—Illustrated Christian Weekly.