PARTY WARFARE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 59, 13 June 1874, Page 8

PARTY WARFARE.

Sib,— Some complain that the Tabiet is too Catholic, too severe • too bitter towards the enemies of the Church j that it is, in fact a clerical paper entirely— a Bishop's paper they call it, and for too highly spiced with hot Catholic zeal. Granting that there may be some degree of truth in this complaint, it must bo borne in mind that a Catholic newspaper like the Catholic Church is truly " militant." It is engaged in a crusade against numerous bitter, powerful, and crafty enemies. No wonder if, in the course of such a warfare, a Catholic newspaper should, from the weakuesa incident to human nature, at times overstep the bounds of charity and moderation, and show more warmth than prudence, good raste and justice might warrant. , If a man should hear the good name of his mother unjustly assailed, is he to be severely blamed — or blamed at all — should he reply to such unjust attacks in warm and indignant language P What would be thought of the son who could defend tbe character of a good and beloved parent agaiust groundless aspersions in calm and measured terms, without any sign of warmth or feeling ? Not much, I believe. Those Catholics, of a frigid and prudent character who take exception to the language of the Tablet when fcotly engaged with the Cnurch's enemies, should bear in miud that the Church is the spiritual inotber of us nl'. There are some Catholics to prudent that they cannot bear

to hear anything in defence of their creed outside the Church. They can read the calumnies or insulting insinuations against the Church and her ministers, from the Pope downwards, with which the Protestant newspapers are so plentifully garnished ; but if the Catholic newspaper stands manfully forward to defend—oh ! dear, no : this must not be. You will only breed ill-will and offend the religious feelings of Protestants ! Such is the mode of reasoning with some •• liberal " Catholics—with some who speak against the Tablet. All newspapers are party papers, whatever they may pretend to the contrary. All the Protestant papers are daily laboring to run down the Catholic Church, and that often by foul and insidious means. They seldom boldly attack us in an open straightforward manly way. It would be well if they did, and not pretend to be impartial, nonsectarian, or " kindly secular." The Tablet does not make any such hypocritical pretensions. It boldly hoists the Catholic banner, let who may take oflence, but does not overlook tbe temporal interests of civil society generally. Timid, tepid, or temporising and croaking Catholics may say what they please against your paper. I have reason to DJiieve from what I hear that it is doing some good to the glorious cause of the Church in this Colony, and if only generously supported will do more good yet. You are but in your infancy— a somewhat critical period of life, it must admitted. Some msy contend that the proper course for ut when unjustly assailed is to remain silent, and " answer not a word " to your accusers — as our dinne Lord himself did when falsely accused before the lonian governor, who condemed him to be put to death in order to gratify his enemies. It may also be said «hat slanderers of the Church are permitted by God to vent their enmity against her, whether through the Pre.*s or otherwise, in order to exercise the patience of ler children ; and that the best policy for us is to allow these slanders to p»?s unnoticed, and to confute them by a virtuous course of life. No cne can object to all this. Yet (I speak as a layman) we are taught by our Catechism that we are not merely bound to speak the truth, but to do all in our power to defend it. Did not Christ himself speak in ttroug language against the opponents of truth and justice t and his Apostles did the some. Others, as well as ourselves, may euffer wrong Mhen statements either entirely false or grossly garbled are circulated to the prejudice of cur Holy Mother and her children. Hence the necessity of a Catholic paper such as the Tablet. True, the Church does not absolutely need the aid of a newspaper or the printing press at all. She can live and triumph, and did live and triumph for centuries without these. Still the Press is being daily used against her by her enemies, as we see, and it is only right and fair that her friends should avail themselves of it for her defence and assistance.

Colonial Catholics who possess a really Cathol'c spirit, should be glad of an opportunity of supporting a Catholic paper in the Colony. A consistent Protestant would admire him the more for it. If there be one thing more than another which a good Protestant despises, and justly, it is a Catholic who, either from religious apathy or interested •ordid money motives, is careless about the credit and the interests of his Church . There ore many such Catholics to be seen. Our opponents in the Church and elsewhere could do little of any harm to the Church or any of its member §, if only we were all true and loyal to her and to each other. R. C.