A LETTER FROM THE POPE. The Plan of Campaign.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 297, 8 September 1888, Page 3

A LETTER FROM THE POPE.

The Plan of Campaign.

The R.M.S. Oceana, which arrived at Albany, brings the following news : — London, July 20.— The following loiter from the Pope to the bishops of Ireland •was read at all the masses in Ireland on Sunday :— "We have frequently directed your solicitude and thoughts to our Catholic people, and om* feelings have been more than once recorded in published documents from which they may clearly learn our dispositions towards Ireland. They are sufhciently attested by the provisions which, under our direction, the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda made in former years respecting Ireland, and also by letters which on more than one occasion we addressed to our venerable brother, Cardinal McCabe, Archbishop of Dublin. Once again they have been arrested by the address which we recently delivered to a not inconsiderable number of Catholics belonging to your nation, from whom we received not only congratulations and heartfelt wishes for our preservation, but also expressions of gratitude on account of our benevolent dispositions, clearly discerned by them, toward the Irish people. Furthermore, within these past few months, when was resolved to build a church in this city in honour of bt. Patrick, the great apostle of the Irish, we most, warn.ly encouraged the undertaking, and we shall substantially aid it within the limits of our resouices. Now. this, our paternal affection, remaining as it does unaltered, we cannot disguise that the tidings which have recently come to us from Ireland have deeply pained and grieved us. We have learned thab an untoward excitement has suddenly arisen, because the Sacred Congregation, whose office it is to vindicate the authority of the Church against those who resent it, has decreed that those methods of warfare known as 'boj'cotting' and the -Plan of Campaign,' which had begun to be employed by many, may not lawfully be used, and the whole more to be deplored, as there are not a tew who have come forward and summoned people to excited meetings, where inconsiderate and dangerous opinions are set in circulation, the authority of the decree not being spared; for not only is the real scope of this decree grievously perverted by means of forced interpretations, but, furthermore, it is even denied the obeyance that is due to the decree, as if it were not the true proper office of the Church to decide what is right and wrong in human actions. Such manner of acting is but little in harmony with the profession of Christian religion, which assuredly brings in its train the virtues of moderation, respect and obedience to legitimate authority. Besides, in a good cause it is not fitting to seem in some sense to imitate those° whose pursuits are unlawful, and teek to attain it by disorderly efforts. Such a line of action, also is more painful to us as we had carefully inquired into jour case, so that we might obtain a full and reliable knowledge of the state of your affairs an \ of the causes of the popular discontent. Our sources of information are trust .\ 01 thy. We investigated the mattei in a personal interview with yourselves. Further, last year we sent to you as a delegate a man of tried prudence and discretion, with a commission^ to use the greatest d-ligence in ascertaining the truth, to make a faithful report to us For this very act of watchful care the thanks of the Irish people had been publicly given to us. Can it, therefore, be asserted without rashness that ws have given judgment in a case with which we are not sufficiently acquainted, more so, as we have condemned things which fair-minded men, not mixed in your struggle, and thus bringing a calmer judgment to the consideration ot the case, write condemning? There is also a suspicion nob less unjust to us — namely, that the cause ot Ireland appeals but feeby to us, and that the present condition of her people gives us little care. Now, on the contrary, we yield to no one in the intensity of our teelings for the condition of the Irish people, and we have no more earnest desire than to see them at length in the enjoyment of that peace and prosperity which they have so well deserved. We have never opposed them in struggling for a better state of things, but can it be regarded as admissible that in the carrying on of that struggle a way should be thrown open which miglib lead to evil deeds? Rather, indeed, for the very reason that under the influence of passion in political partisanship things lawful and unlawful are to be found mingled in some, it has been our constant effort to mark off what was right from what was wrong and withhold Catholics from everything not sanctioned by Christian rule of morals. On this account we gave to the Irish people timely counsels —to be mindful of their obligations as Catholics and to take part in nothing at variance with natural right or forbidden by Divine law. Our recent decree ouerht not to have come upon them unexpectedly, all the more as you yourselves,Svenerable brethren, assembled in Dublin in the year 1881, bade the clergy and people beware of everything contrary to public order or to chaiity, such as refusing: to discharge just obligations, preventing others from discharging theirs, inflicting injury on anyone either in person or property, violently resisting the law of those engaged in the discharge of public duties, joining secret societies and the like. These injunctions, most just in themselves and given most seasonably, were praised and approved by us. Nevertheless, as the people were being carried away by ever increasing vehemence in the pursuit of the objects they desired, and as these were not wanting, and were being daily fanned into a flame, we perceived that something more definite was needed than the general precepts of justice and charity previously given. Our duty forbade us to suffer that so many Catholics, whose salvation must be our firsb care, should pursue a hazardous and unsafe course, leading rather [ to disorder than to relief of distress. Let matters then be viewed in their true light, and let Ireland read in this decree j our love for herselt and our desire to promote a prosperity she hopes for. Since nothing is so hard to accuse, however just, these instructions which we address to you, venerable brethren, you will convey to the Irish people. We feel confid en that, united in due • conformity of view and of purposes and sustained not only by your own, but also by our authority, you will accomplish much, and chiefly this : that the true estimate of things shall not continue to be- obscured'.! by. passion, and most especially thab those who have urged on the people to excitement may have cause to regret the rashness with which they have acted. Since there are many who -seem to seek every means of escaping from even the plainest obligations, take all necessary steps that no room be left' for doubt as to the force of this decree. Let it be understood by all that the entire method of action whose employment we have forbidden is forbidden as altogofcher unlawful. Let your people seek to advance their lawful interests by lawful means, and most especially as becoming in Christians, -without prejudice to justice or to obedience to the Apostolic See, virtues in which Ireland has at all times found comfort and strength."