Roman Catholicism and America.
By Editor
THE great Catholic paper of America, the "Western Watchman," published at St. Louis, in its issue of October 29 of the current year, declares that America is the church's land of promise, and tells us that "his holiness is enthusiastic over America, especially the United States. To begin with, he likes our government and our public officials, with whom he has come into official relations." Strange statement, isn't it? When so much of the United States is Protestant and all her liberties grew out of Protestantism! Strange that the United States should be preferred to so many other countries on the Western Hemisphere which are decidedly Roman Catholic. Surely it would seem that if the pope were pleased with any countries, he would be pleased with those which had been under the control of Roman Catholicism so long. But the article continues: "It must be confessed that the United States had treated Rome well whenever we had an opportunity. The correspondence between the Vatican and Washington has been marked by respect and fairness on the one side, and candor and confidence on the other. . . . The powers of the Old World regard the church with distrust and yield nothing to her except forced thereto by the fear of public opinion. . . . If the holy father needed an arbitrator in any dispute with a European power, he would very probably choose the President of the United States. And the confidence is reciprocal." Europe understands the Papacy better. We are further told that "the church is making advances only in America," that over in Europe the church is "growing weaker by dissensions and emigration. The outlook across the water is very discouraging to any but those of the strongest faith. . . . American shoulders are to-day holding up the Vatican. Its revenues are largely derived from this country; and what is now a steady stream will soon be an on-flowing river. The Catholics of this country are Romans. They swear by the pope. They stand up for papal authority. WE PLACE NO LIMITATIONS ON THE JURISDICTION OF THE VATICAN. Any man who is not with the pope is excommunicate with us. . . . France prides herself on the title of 'oldest daughter of the church;' the United States can claim the appellation of the 'youngest, fairest, and best.'" It seems that such utterances as these ought to show to Protestants and even American Roman Catholics the danger that confronts this nation. It was said years ago that what the church had done for other nations, she would do for the United States. What she has done for other nations where she has had full control may be seen in the condition of those nations to-day; and we can read in the condition of those decadent nations to-day just what the United States will be if Rome should ever come to have full control. We also can see by these words of Editor Phelan just where Roman Catholics will stand if there should ever come a conflict in this country over the matter of religion. Roman Catholicism is a state religion. It claims state power. It holds that it has the right to direct and control states. The true idea of the Christian religion is that man's worship and obedience belong to God, but that has nothing whatever to do with right civil duties. He is to render tribute to whom tribute is due, and honor to whom honor, and to God that which belongs to God; and he can be a dutiful, loyal, faithful Christian in every controversy that may arise, and still be a loyal subject to his country in all matters that pertain to civil conduct. But the "Watchman" tells us that the Catholics of this country are Romans; they owe allegiance to a foreign power, and acknowledge it; not a foreign religious power only, but a foreign power which claims civil authority. "THEY SWEAR BY THE POPE, THEY STAND UP FOR PAPAL AUTHORITY. WE PLACE NO LIMITATIONS ON THE JURISDICTION OF THE VATICAN." That simply means this, that if the Vatican should control the United States, every man who is not willing to yield to that jurisdiction, who is not with the pope, "is excommunicate with us" [them]. All such utterances as these are counted by a greater part of the American press as simply sentiment. Our Catholic friends do not so count them. They are sentiment, but they are determined that they shall be more than sentiment. They shall be crystallized into law. The hope of continued religious liberty in America does not lie either with Roman or federated Protestant sentiment, but in preserving intact the principles of the Constitution, the equality of man, and the protection of man in his inalienable rights. If these be preserved, warring sects may live in physical peace; but wo be to the land when controlled by religious bodies, singly or federated. We admire the "Western Watchman" for its frankness and for its loyalty, but we warn every lover of Christianity and every true American patriot, both Catholic and Protestant, against such sentiments as inimical to the best and greatest good of the country.