"A BRITISH LAY CATHOLIC" ON FENIANISM.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3353, 15 April 1868, Page 3

"A BRITISH LAY CATHOLIC" ON FENIANISM.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Ceoss. SlK,— The letter of your correspondent, "A. British Lay Catholic," although tolerably moderate in its tone, contains tome such strange statements and palpable contradictions tbat it requires and merits a reply, although anonymous. Ist. What right has " A British Lay Catholic " to say that " Mr. Crispe hints rather than asserts his readiness to believe in the community of sentiment between the Catholic Church and the worst of Fenians," when I merely say, "It would be well if we could have a record of the creed, Church, or denomination of every convicted Fenian conspirator, from which we might learn a lesson"? Surely there are other creeds, Churches, and denominations besides Roman Catholics. And then "A British Lay Catholic" goes on to dwell upon Irish grievances, which, when coupled with his remarks on Fenianism, has * decided tendency to palliate Fenianism, although he protests to tbe contrary. And although "A British Lay Catholic" tells us that a man ceaies to be a Catholic the moment he becomes a Fenian, this is mere assertion, and it reminds me of a somewhat similar assertion with the Quakers. When Tawell was tried for murder, and while he was under trial, he was read out of the Society of Friends : thus a Quaker never was hanged for murder, although Tawell w»s. But I place very little weight upon such flimsy assertions. Now the most remarkable part of "A British Lay Catholic's " letter is this: " But I consider that my religion imposes on me the duty of loyalty and fidelity to my superiors, even though for a time it were necessary to resist them by force as a temporary remedy against oppression. How can he yield loyalty and fidelity to his superiora if he resists them by force ? This is so purely Irish that it is beyond my comprehension. Ido not wish to be drawn into a discussion on the tenets of 'A British Lay Catholic's " Church, but he freely admits that his " Church in denouncing Fenianism formally condemns the Reformation." But one more quotation only in conclusion : " When I see the public of Auckland eagerly rushing to the platform to expreis their just horror and indignation at the crime of a professed Fenian, I think mournfully upon the accumulated wrongs of Ireland." Now in the name of common sense and common honesty, why should expressions the most severe against a base assassin of an innocent and unoffending son of England s most just and virtuous Queen lead " A British Lay Catholic " to look mournfully upon the accumulated wrongs of Ireland ? But enough ; I must plead ignorance with thousands of others ai to the precise thing or measure which Fenians require, and I have not yet met with one who can deßne it for me.— l am, &c, J« Cws * B - Mauku, April 13, 1868.