PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 8 June 1911, Page 1048

PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH

A REVIEW BY CARDINAL MORAN His Eminence Cardinal Moran, at the blessing and opening of a new church-school at Coogee on Sunday, May 21, took occasion (says the Freeman’s Journal ) to reply to critics who had mistakenly debated that the Catholic Church was decadent. Glancing back over the pages of Catholic history in many lands, the Cardinal said that he had been rather amused a few weeks ago by attacks made on the Catholic, Church by those who were ignorant of the historical truths of the Church which they attacked. One of those debates, which had taken place at Newcastle, showed that some of their friends had in a special way dwelt on the alleged decadence of the Catholic Church. He could not but smile at these attacks. Looking around Randwick, there was no sign of decadence. He remembered twenty-five years ago, the only church in Randwick was a humble one, visited by a priest about once a month. Then it was difficult to get him to visit the place, so scanty were the parishioners. Now it took six priests, with the Very Rev. Father Treand at their head, to look after their spiritual requirements. They had a local church, an admirable convent, on one of the finest sites that could be found in any suburb. It was a grand centre of virtue and science, in which the children were prepared for their future careers of life. In other districts there was no sign of decadence. In every suburb he had visited he saw signs of progress, and it was the same all through Australia. Everywhere the cry was for more schools, more churches, more convents, and it was difficult to supply the demand. Although they could get plenty of nuns, it was difficult at times to get sufficient Brothers to devote themselves and their lives to the education of children. The Church in Germany and Russia. Never from the time, of Constantine did the Catholic Church seem to shine brighter or purer than it did at present. According to the official census for 1910, there were 22,000,000 Catholics in the German Empire. Even Bismarck, who had at his command all the military forces which had carried the standard of triumph over the countries of Europe, declared, after a five or six years’ warfare against the Catholic Church, that in the interests of the Empire they had to give up the contest. In Germany they were erecting a grand national monument to Bismarck, of which one of the leading journals in the Home country remarked that it was their boast that the name of Bismarck would long survive the most enduring monument erected to perpetuate his memory. It showed the hold that Bismarck’s name had taken on the people; yet, with all the power of Germany behind him, and marshalled against the Church, the German Chancellor had deliberately declared that they must give up the contest, because the Church, in its precepts and teaching, was the truest ally of the Imperial power. Thousands of priests had been expelled from their homes during that warfare, but all were subsequently recalled, and the German authorities resolved to make amends for the injuries done to the Church in those times. Russia was also remarkable for its warfare against the Church. The Cossacks used to surround the Catholic people, and drive them into the Greek Church or else into one of the adjoining streams. However, the humiliation of Russia by another power brought consideration for others, and the Imperial ukase declared that peace should be restored to the Catholic Church. .. As a result of that decree there were now fifteen million devoted Catholics in Russia. ; Catholicism in Great Britain. What should be said of Great Britain, which held its place as the foremost Empire of the world at the present day, especially as mistress of the seas? They would all particularly rejoice at the Coronation of 'their most gracious Sovereign, because, for the first time within 200 years, not a word of insult would be offered to the Catholic Church during the Coronation ceremonies. One hundred years ago there were only 3000 children attending the religious schools in England and Scotland, without one penny aid from the Government. At the present time 300,000 children c attended the religious schools, .which received Government aid. That example might be followed by their statesmen in New, South Wales. vuln America and Other Lands. Reverting to the progress of the Catholic Church in other lands, the Cardinal said that a hundred years ago in the United States the first Archbishop was appointed together with four Bishops. At the present time they had 98 Bishops in the same territory. Surely that was not a decay. > .. ' • i v • ■ ' v ■■■'<■■■ _ - In t Canada they witnessed recently the magnificent Eucharistic Congress, surpassing all others in its religious

zeal and splendor. So, too, in the Southern Republics of America, where in former years, owing to confusion arid‘ the different' parties all aiming at power, it seemed as if ruin waited on nineteen Republics. At ■ the present time these republics were consolidated, and enjoyed the greatest prosperity, developing their resources in peace. In these republics there were 70 millions of Catholics. •- -■ . France was dominated •by a Freemasonry Government, ■; which had set aside all religion, and rejoiced in its impiety and immorality. Yet they had only to look back a hundred years, when France had even been in a ten : times worse position, and he ventured to say that the soirit of religion was ten times more vigorous at the present time than it was a hundred vears ago. .: " , M The Miracle of Ireland. Then they had the example of Ireland. The other day he had read in a discussion the remarks made by an Englishman, and a member of Parliament, who said: Ireland is a miracle!’ That was a short phrase, still it was very emphatic, and one that could no be excelled. In the first place, Ireland was a miracle by the fact of the apostolate of St. Patrick, who in his short life gathered the whole of the country into the fold of the Catholic Church. A second feature of the miracle was the fact that Ireland was a sanctuary of enlightenment and divine truth, and its people became so enthusiastic in the paths of virtue that Ireland became known as the Isle of Saints. Another feature was the wonderful missionary spirit which led the sons of Ireland to the various countries of Europe overrun by barbarians, and there to spread the blessings of enlightenment and religion, and to give to those nations true Christian civilisation. Then came the miracle of •i , J „ ,-7 had read of that great patriarch, who in the midst of his prosperity had been reduced to the greatest sufferings and humiliations, and vet submitted to God’s will. _ .>o, too, in Ireland, after three centuries of English invasion and persecution,' Ireland retained its faith and devotion to God. That was its fourth feature. A fifth feature of the miracle was the heroism and devotion of the martyrs of Ireland, which could not be surpassed. And the sixth feature was perhaps -more remarkable. : It was Ireland coming forth from the tomb. During the- past j unci rod years, Ireland had laid aside its sorrows to - re]oice in the path of piety and faith, to spread out in every country the blessings of religion. Anyone who looked forward to the decay of the Irish race would look in vain. It was an old saying that St. Patrick had prayed that the Irish race would retain its faith to the last day of Judgment, and ho would tell their good friends of. Newcastle that when they saw the traditions of the Irish race beginning to decay, they might look out for a a aim spot, as the end of the world was coming.