ARCHBISHOP CROKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7948, 14 May 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

ARCHBISHOP CROKE.

HOW HIS CONDUCT 13 VIEWED AT

THE VATICAN. Romp., March 23.—Tho part played by Archbishop Croke in the Father Keller affair ha 3 madesn unpleasant impression at the Vatican, where, although all credit is given to him for his patriotic intentions, he is regarded as a kind of enfant terrible who mav at any moment compromise the Church. The Archbishop's sensationalism is very embarrassing for the Propaganda, which cannot, with all its very real Irish sympathies, countenance illegality. FEARING CIVIL WAR. " Bat," a3 Archbishop Jacobini, Secetary of the Propaganda, remarked tome just now, " until all the facts of the case are before us, it would be premature to say much. Irishmen. however, have hot heads as well aa good hearts. I fear if things go on as now much longer there will be a civil war. The English Goverment, influenced, perhaps, by the landlords, seems bent on crushing the Irish, who are not inclined to let themselves be crushed." Archbishop Croke's imprudence is making it difficult for the Holy See to continue its present policy of " masterly inactivity" with regard to Ireland. There is not the slightest wish at the Vatican to move a finger on behalf of England. The Vatican has neither forgotten nor forgiven England's trickiness in the matter of the Errington Mission, but it cannot encourage any open defiance of the law, and if, on enquiry, it should be found that Archbishop Croke has over-stepped the limits permitted by the Catholic Church, he will doubtiess be called sharply, though perhaps secretly, to order.