THE POPE AND CATHOLICS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2472, 15 May 1888, Page 2

THE POPE AND CATHOLICS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sie, —T, to-day, met with in your issue of last Thiirsd iy^--the letter signed " Juuius Hi! crnicus" and headed " The Pope and Ireland" and, as a Catholic, cannot refrain from protesting against some very intemperate sentiments therein expressed. Bit in the first place let me deplore what semis to me the very premature dis-ensr-ion now taking place in the local press (upon as yet very insufficient information) with leference to a decision of the Roman College of Cardinals, which appears to have been given upon the action taken by a portion of tho Irish tenantry in their struggle with the landlords. And here I would remark that then , is nothing to indicate that the principle of Home Rule, or the objects of the Land League, have licon dealt with at i>ll. Indeed the probabilities seem to me'! directly against-' such conclusions, and that the practice condemned was rather some one or other of the methods proposed by some Irishmen, for gaining certain political ends ; which latter may he in themselves, perfectly justifiable. But what I am now auxious about is —to indignantly repudiate the astounding' assumption of "Junius Hibernicus " for '* intelligent portion of the Catholic community," that they do not believe the I'ope to be infallible in matters of faith and morals. Catholics do believe that the Church through her mouthpiece the Pope is infallible in matters/ of faith and moral?, and it is indeed a /'a gross libel upon the intelligent portion of the Catholic community " to assert otherwise. As to tiie present decision of the College of Cardinals, and the action of His Holi-

ness, whatever may be its- nature and extent (of which, so far, \vp know so little) I, Sir, as a Catholic, feel every confidence that the Pope will be obeyed by the Irish people. That people whose whole history for centuries has been a noble record of constancy to their faith through its ages of dire trials and humiliations. Who indeed with so grand a past religions history before them, can venture to doubt that? Now again i as heretofore, this devoted people will show once more to the world that they are indeed true Irishmen, by proving that they are above and before all things, Catholics.—l am, &c., Catholic. Hamilton, May 13tli.