THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 4

THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

.■■'■' , Sir,—A' few days^dgb ; YV;-.-. ' the: jpiiblic press ail- dnnouriceriieh't that'tho : ; : f, < 'P 9: Wd 'docided; in accordance .with Arch- ;:':■ , Dißnop.Eedwopd's views:inxthe • }';v':: : :v:aispnte''arising-out:-of..tho^removal;of- the :.'.-,',;: Sisters, .of; Mercy from. tho- parishes ,of .the Oi^.-f-i;Hutt;;ondvsPet<)ne:;:;; vk : ( 'i>f :^:S- : ;:: : r dU; ■ :"v ; :; ■ tcotly 'Or indirectly from';tho- ' :;:-;: ?;; and -; its - publication was : probably intended Y-Y/CYto :;suo;gest.ithe, jusf/iflcation. of, the .'Arch-' J :,:' % bishop's actions.. 1 . It is one-sided-'arid -plius-'' ':■::;■ ■■: wjll.do al)ay : -thajust re..•;j ■.'•;,-. Behtmerifc.^fc-th;^ .;?;: itb'kir.'tES- .^-: cision: loses '«U:its 'fprcofroiri the; fact' that' '. :£.'(■:'r: :V :^--: ,which' the' petitioners:. (the-.-.Sistersvof ; -;:/':'X'.Meroy and ; ;tbe-p'arishionerfl).never'saw).arid": :■;:-:.:,.;:to;,which> ; . • ";..;;>' po'rtunity of /replying. '•.. '■ It: is: a;-eaka of c:tßef i '■'.-'■";:, pafties,,.,bcing.. convicted.i.on ..evidence, -.they AAire /Catholics bound'-to' ac-? ,p~ "'■'':-.cept / ;;,'.-. :■,'; 'wrong;':and":'whiohv %o ' ob- ' p:; ;..tained. on ovidoiica t that- jriieiJecl.,tho -Court?- .;:,:;::.; Suoh -a thing' as- a;, miscarriage -"of i ■ ■>': . : '-'!o>?S' not in our; '■ '.':i,:. : ;:..:-V,wpnders, from wh'athas recently''-.been 'heard:. f ; :": ; Ki*fy"schißmatios ,, ;aiid''v,.revohjtioiusts|V. if'h'e'v '' s':: ;■::"'\abonid -.considered- worseVthantbbtli, if "Jie... -:--';. ~pr\ ventured'; to' ; suggest;,the Vp6ssibility r of r v a" ' y:!:; ■;.;; eimihs!'ariisf^ortiin'e:-6ccirnrig:-.iu'arndScc'lesias- • :/:.'.::.:. tioal^Goiincili'-'lf..'the: aririburicernerit' ;; H..,';;; ■'isv.biri'dingj: wellj-VflneLmight.risKtiiccharge"! - v:h'!\--.r-\Qne':*' I lotn':to*b.ellevb'fin BucK'hri-extraofdin-' 1 , a nd obviously■urijußt:'iridgmerit;'-* y^-vili ' ■; \- . ::'; I^jl^ ::':.'.v-.'::; ™]?h> to' .the..petitions,;.and flirtheripetition's J e or th co niing:: if :;the: ; people : S:Y ■v : :them. necessary,', notwithstanding his' Grace's;. :;;r;i; assurance ; that:.the;:case : )'.'-;. v -~-' ' ::: ; ; ; :'; ; tb^stat^—''The'Arch-' YS:-" oishopi-was- inyited;hy .a full su,, C: :>:statement':bfathc-«case^Th'is'v'was.; done."/ S:'- ? -ii: : ' : -Ev e ry J .'ilionourable' man ■; will,.readily admit Y:;.;.'.! i that'th'o" "cMe":" ''*?'■.;:;. pf.Yhonburvand :honestv;; : to,:supply.;an:exact : V;:Y :"• oopy?:of;-:this:.fitateirient''"to 'thopaftios'i'-cdn-'.-W -'■■ ■-: j» -, necessary; .fori his Yowri Ysakei :;;;>.,Y.;.. that:he:shpuld:doYsOj for ,his : aotions in .the; ■ earlier ?stages: of. ;this: affair: were: such: ajs'-jtS'.'■ ;>;; : >'"--;'r. jeayo:. him openYto' 1 theYoharge- of ;bei%;';aY . ■:S- ':Y:i:" la *d"witness;':arid, moroover, if:his:state-:Y:';;,;Yment-:is;a:faithful.record.'of.fthe"facts, tliere' ' Y::'": : -' ' c iri : :ber,no;v.obifetYirii-withholdirig;iit,* and-:its'-, go r fari,to.: remoyoY'suspi-'. #Y-V';: ; .. 3&~&\ The (position; which: the;. : 4.rchbisKbp v; ?has' ; Y; .-Y-' assumrf' .throughout 'the 'whole, affair seems, 'Y'Y':;'.'' -?<>twithsta.ndirig ■'■AH Y;-: iri' his moriths : ago,/- ■ 1--ySy 6p':,extraordinary Yand", unaccountable ' ;;,'!.:,:: Y. demand "some: further.-.inquiry .'.'/ Indeed, -the' J ;Y'/S'/ Archbißhop's'/letter: and, the': recent 1 statenVerit^i ;;Y;; Yji?/ the': veryj ,besfc»pro6f •-. bP : your, /iMdlyYiriduigencer: a;'if ew^fabts. -might-be", stated, :-and YY:?Y : Y wheii' halve/YheardYarid -;ConYYYYY;trastedJbpthJstbrics, Hhe^will'he'ableHoYifonr;" : : '^~- -i ; ??^' :^'n ' onf^; 'th^in'selvei.Y/Iri''his s lettCT^:' : :■;YY'^i: fli^^^rdship;■:;tal^dvabpj^t; ; YYYSYjrimo,.? :aljpiit.Y'jpjiblic Y'opinion." being!' riiis- ; ~-KS~Jed",/YtWe/:Wall;; ! see;who/has:tried:-:to : mis- 1 : '-a:-<-Yvkad';iK:.YHis; prpfaisioii'ipf / solicitation, '."f of Y'-:::--'Yt!i6;nelilth 1 ?^tho-:bverw<&k,M'Ythe'*^yscoii-^, of tho:Sisters, a"nd''hisUuddei t ; Ys::'YY«oypryS;flfYall-..these'hardships* aftervtwenty' YY/YoY-years-is/truly/'pathetjc 1; ■H": i rYYs': ,:; . ■''■;> "i : M:A"■: .v/^Y o^^.pirson •'in;authority ;desires .tb/db.i iY'Si;:^ 80m etli' n SY-Virid' i arid2 ; 'f advaritagoous "..' to f ia ; , occupied;atYthe'/Hutti'.is; : it : m± ; Yjot :usiialvi:merely: <ttt':of; cbirimori'po'litehess/' •Y/:Y:.-:Y to,c6risult:'thel /parties; interested?:- ; Did ■ the .;/-v;Y'Archbishbp;:corisult;;thQ: clergyiYtn'omuris,/ or: ;YY r 'Havo: noFlhT" v,V.::Y;oyerwhelmibg:majority/bf"thevSisters- indig- ; Y //; nantly; protested / against^the'-.treatment '.thny' ::>Y:-:::/: : fl a y 6 ;.T e^lTed? ' : ;':/The ! >: ; SY^Y;paft;.-arrangenientsrcaused'-- : .'no'-- : 'overwork ) '' no 'Y : Y/ l /vincbnVeniencej-vno: : ill-h'ealth i :/andYthat .'tlie^: J Y aU;the:schools under• : Y'YY-Y;the«birgeYwifli: .fufßcieri^and' cbrnpefent".' ;;:,fYY;|tafcYOf;:.wursp^Yon6: , ;does" :/Y^Y;;-Jwdship!s-iight::t<j;.hbld a";coritrai^ opinion,',YYM:YP u t^he : :T!aust' do'.sb/wHhY/reaspn; a"ndYwith • 3/Y.viriusti6e: v -v If ;im-' ' Y:Y;: ;; :;P^ I .jhejinot-: coinbjj-tov/the'. • : •YY:-YY::h.a;.:seenis.ss6;'anxious tbi;proclaimj ; '-arid ; :iri' '1 'i? > t™b° B< > Yinterests Y and' i jprogrpss:;; heTiprof esses// :/;i'Y:-;^uph,:c(mcerri^;^y:ißd:-hej:-byfhis:actions;. . YY;'- : f : v.?ansfttheiri:to',«,affer:-Ibss-'bf,prestige; hhm'ili-• : £200': : ji; ;YY';: .to/the loss-they-will-pro- { t '■ YJv^ably^sustairi^ri^lheJ-SanSi^: of:thcirYpr(P. ■! steQ :this':leads;/orie 'to'; tho'iquestioit >' f Y : his? ; ;J 2'/,Y//letter:'6f^septemh'er^'dast.'annoiinced '<v?i>yiW : ; 'vDß :^^n '/YY'Ys month's have--claps'ed, ; -arid /wh'afeh'ds'- ! h« . V-/'->/'';'iV-4°J I «;' ; -to.'.fulfU,pis':^forriis6fyY:/H^ f '*aridpby,: : YYYyY whom; does: he': propose" £ -:*V: e ; ■:Y : seeiri"to suggest'that' Aia : v ':g?* /settled' ; A a -'•: '.■'■'■/■ before: .the. Sisters; :.wpreY.asked: to/"withdraw. ■ /on© ! /can-;iridEo : Mm : :4h ; B; inf : -.; Y-/i,YtioiiYavailablei- / Y Y ;Was 'ilhchristiarf'act'}" it ' : ; YY : 'Y' s rasY'unmeritod";arid / unjust,©forJlit ''/exposed:.;. .-' YPMrY .tti^t 11 ' YY: rY-Y,there .:;:: : .:Y.;.TOmings]te:yM«rifesuch/a^6ee^^ - .Y'•:God.:therß•;were',noY^ounQs;-f6r^su(!h ) 'a/:'sug-^ ■■ Y'YY / Y^o s o',wno:shayeYa;'deepor*ihtere^.:'in^aiid:.: : - : YY;Y Y A 1,51 } 1 ? 15 - P^ 7 ™^priests; arid.the.pecjple'-ihithe-. ■. YYv -YB^^areYH^ly'^atisfiedVKitethetSistersj./ /,■.•;;.'.;.:.:. and. thp.latest ieport;:terthe:..G'ovfi'riirflent-iri--> ;:/;;::YY;spectbr.;M:Scbobls-;i^alsd:;in:thmrs^ - YYYYYEchools' are, pps6iblynbt;pbrfcct,varidLitis cei-- ; : / ,: ;Y ■-'/ t ain . ;t^-S.isj^rs,i^hemselv'esj?two.uld : -: , i:.--Y;. hoi/ : iriuch-hetterYthey:could':db;/if.;H;heyY A : ' ■//rY^/P,^P>b';:supporfediby;!those-:tb < whoth' YY/YY;' they ;'have;:aY right? to:';lobkYfor/:help.^:Fore^ ; :;beeri:''t}li6 : YY::Yr;.A r *^ sno P-///WhaT:assisfarice:;financial]y':6 - : = Ai-V he/affordedAthobiihbiv/ofteri:has v :^Y./.:;■ lip,:;visitedYtheseY/schookYsiriee^iJiey:"= ; were'' :'Y A -■ '■■ °P ene di-; nearly:'twontyYy&rs : -ago ?•/"Has/'/lir' 'Y-.-V:-,« v , er , contributed/one:penny towards the Sis- ' Y:'Y:.:Y::ters'Yexpenses/ atYtheYHutt'?Y 'Arid.Yby /'the- ' : (, ''ftx-i.WiV.t Ho • another- (Question of J^\a: :j™cli ithe;iCathQlicY.bodyYwouldYbo;/ gladYof' , It'was/pub- ■ '?': Y'Y : :-tJ?? h ,«l. a,;short /time agbYthat' the. penny sub-' - //V-':.•:■-;■,. ;B onptioh"s.: collected:.at.'the church ; doors for XY-/Y : :t¥/ 6 ? n Pols;amburited,;bver'/a series of-yearsY /wYY.::% ; ? o methingHikeY£2oop./;v:Did.'the s Sißter^Y Y '//^'»^presuriiablyY s educated;llialffthe': 1 Catholic- ■: --:S i/^'^ri— the ; and' va ;/ ;the; ; Hutt'receiye:£looo froiri-the above fund. :; YY ; YY' p, j wmch4heyj wpiild; seem ;.tp' : hb::erititl6d ?UM .: it;, notYan; open secret/tha't>%hby have'never //: ; /:recoived; one'shilling;frohr/this, or from: any: ■. d :: -<i ?*"«•'? n .d ',p6ntrollad.:by Archbishop?/It' • A'. .:::Y';S:trae^^yiassistarit,:whorh'as'.beeri:%elrKiig ■ .:'■■:• W»},% c !*y sphppla'..for;'a:few .years' received Y /.smallY-salary,' ■, arid,-a■'.'second -has- ; for : .'somo Y;mbnths.past/received/a 'contributibri . to her/ :■.'■-■-." ;salary::of £20 a:year>: These 'suriis'are paid,' ,:::,.,. understood, .by; the'Vicar-General;/for Y,;,YYY;theYrest,'.;th6. Sistersiave to provide -for .Y; -': Ytn.emselyeSiYY'^:Y:Y/:: v Y.;:;Y:: -//-./-YYrYy.Y/ -/■ ,'Y'j A : ; about,his'tordship's 1 .:.: -.-; "...nriirivi.ted. and unexpected -visit" to the Jlutt •' . -/ A Y;on,SuridayYSe'ntember-2'o.'//Tliis/is!meriti()ned' .; ■-,.m. order, to give;an ppport,unityYpf.';judcing ■■■;-.-■: • -of spmo of j his ; Lord3hipis','metho l ds;bf dealing .With his people; YHis/Zuhharipy allusions .. orii •■-■-. Y;this;;'pooasion'te;:theYpporYSistorS|Yivhp:Vflre -•.;■ Y 'from.thcir/circuriistances.pr'overi'tod^fwni^dei* Y-: ; ■: pending ;thpms.elycs.:at-least''in : :puhlic,:.wero '■"!■:'■:... ; in- the- most questionable,.taste—tlje-y Ywerb ''Y..''■'v'''-; ; -t'nRcheroij'Sv-ind;.un.'d'alle>l/ ; Y.dircct.xnntradictio'n, pf. whathis' Lordsliip Jias .....-'•'. .Yheen,-telling the .Catholic pebplo. for over a- ■ . Y i-qriarterYbf tecerituryY^Hb.referred■frbm'tho' ~■: -;' altar to gentlemen/who .sent- him/a'-respectf til" ..petition, '.'arid.'who {were not satisfied 'with, his ': : ". Jjordship's TOply. as'"acitatorsj!';asY"seif-ap- ■.; ,- pointed: leaders^'..c'tej' 'This/was rude/and of;'.,fensive,Yand moreover/it,,was.ript/true'.: YOne , -passes"'over his unworthyYand-'futilb'tn'rcats'.' ;; / ;Mieht,,'nbt.suoh' I .cbriduct- if--indulgod,,-irj?b.v '■a - layrtanvbo';.^'Kstly/'Lponßidc're)lian',act{of ':]-- desecra'tipri?'pndYbrie' : haryot:to"'-'leanf t that: 1 :. the Catholic Church provides 'any'special'exf- .,:; ception;"■' jri -. the case;; of Archhishbp? from: *' law we.-are-.'all'horirid.-toY'onserve.' ■' App'ar-■:;:;entlv:_his':Lordship/lost'vhls''temper,-'arid' an ;.: , '■:. Archbishop in a .temper is;' neither a very .\',. ~.'■ dignified: nor.a Very /edifying spectacle. The '. ,petition;.arid- the''.vigv/sYexprossod. after-the .;,.:': YunKrocipris i; reply" fa ithf uljy ■ represented Y.tho : .' /opinions" of /the '.Catholics at.the.Hutt. a :■- ;•..':■-:, Does ;th,o- Archbishop denyYthei'Darentsvtho Y right-.to Ytt'ypiceHn.the .matter :of ■ who shaH ''A :/ educate. ;.their...children?i..: If; so,, would he - 1 :-; ' kiiidfy 'point /to-/ any'--■law/'.'oanon* .-'of'.other,' ;.-:..Ywhi.ch ; excludes parents from this right?. One'

ipay,'' however,'."congrafijlato' the ■ Archbishop oii .coming vihtk-tprint,'*.and on the {altered tone of his language. If ho continues in this strain Catholics will treat his opinions with courtesy MidTrespebt, although thoy aro not always bound to accept them. Thoso interested in ,tho,.prosont. question want tho ...whole: dfEtho?'facts?i^Jitfiaiily!l boforo' tho'': public ; they want no lopse statements, no misleading suggestions from tho pulpit or elsewhere, no ' Sailing of names—in a word, no repetition of the Sunday at tho Hutt;■',- They wint to assort.tho..right.:which the Catholic.Church gives "them ' ; ;te.:- :!, 'ex|i'ress,V their; 'opinions, 1 ■ and, /rif necessary, to., decide' '; for themselves suchimatterk as those under■',our consideration. Y Above all," they want the good S.ist»fs.who ;r -l)ave>;spry.c'd them so faithfully arid well' to Tio ."treated with consideration ;arid i :^fsticOi'S ii Tlie-'''AVchbishop, at the Hutt "ifske,d-''tJfe -'parisTiiorie'rsV'te" ;suppprt their '■ItXay hiayVft'be"-''respectfully■.'.'suggested'to the. prelate ■ the obligation of respecting ,tho visiles,"th.i?' I Snterest'^'j J rtfld the rights': of his .V'** I ' :: u' • ■;'! {.'-""' r •' ;;;; : ,Sa2iJC;!£ : Tv ■ CATHOLIC,. Jariuaryi; ISO 9. 7 .' > ;