POPE LEO AND THE IRISH AGITATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1336, 22 January 1881, Page 2

POPE LEO AND THE IRISH AGITATION.

The -ciinoxt, winch is understood to reflect the Papal mind on popular questions has an articlo oh the attitude of the Vatican towards the existing state of affairs in Ireland, in which it says :—: — 11 There is ouo thing which for us Catholics docH not admit of discussion, and which every Government has the right to ask and requite from the bishops and Catholics ot every country, and that is that, in pointing out burdens and in asking repai.itions for wioug, they should not pass the limits of the respect duo t*> the authoiitics, and thattlipy should hold themsulves with hf-ry disdain aloof from those means whrih in the complex arc called revolutionary, and which branch out in so many ways — in tumult?, in seciet societies, in intimidations, and, still svoise, in incendiarism, homicide, anJ ticachery. Such ineaus aie abhorred by Catholics, and if others, under whatever pretext, adopt them they cease by that sole fact to belong to the Church, and they compromise and dishonour even the most holy cause. Could it ever be possibles that the noble Irish Episcopate would — we will not say, let things take their course -bat would fail to denounce such disloyal means — means which, Avhile defiling- the faith of Catholic Ireland, would rum hor cau-jo in all honest minds 1 To put this question is to give it an answer admitting no reply. To adopt violent means, as, alas ! has already been and Would still be done in Ireland by turbulent and dangerous men, is not only a ciime, but albo a folly. A right- minded people, jealous of their dignity, as the Eugli&h are, would never consent to give ledress sought to be forced fiom them by violuuoc and by criminal means : but, thanks be to Heaven. C ithoUo Ireland has no need for such means. The lush Episcopate and the Pope will be in accord in maintaining the principles of the Chuich, and in striving evar to be an element ot order, of temperance, of on ills ition, even amid the raging of ardent passions. A few days ago some of the lii-ili bishops came t) piy filial homage to Loo XIII. We weie not present at the couvtrsation between those bishop-* and the Pope, but we know the spirit by which both were animated, and it does not seem tojus far fiom tho truth to say t.iatLeo XIII. spoke to them a-, follows : — Bewaie my brethienthat the enemy come not to sow tho tares of the factions [dcllv •>itti) among you. Beware that your ministiy give not the slightest pretext for censuie. .Separate from you those who ,ue terronsiuar and raisins 1 tho homicidal knife against their fellows. Pic serve the traditions of the Holy Church whose pastors you aie, and remind your faithful flocks that our fathers eamo out from the cat iconibs and cruel oppiession, led by the hand of the chanty of Jesus Chriot, and through the serene and peaceful defence of their right. ' We can pledge ourselves, that if not these exact words, certainly these sentiments were expiessed by the Pope and accepted by the Irish bishops."