The Standard Volume 1 January 29, 1887
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The Standard Volume 1 January 29, 1887 Page 1 Prelates In Politics Growing Indignation Against Corrigan's Political Proceedings St. Stephen's in Revolt—An Enormous Gathering of Irishmen to Hear Michael Davitt Cheers Dr. McGlynn and Hisses Cardinal Simeoni—Further Outrages on St. Stephen's—Police Interfere— Other Priests Removed—A Chorus of Catholic Protest From All Parts of the Country—The Archbishop Boldly Avows His Political Motives The excitement over Archbishop Corrigan's removal of Rev. Dr, McGlynn from the pastorate of St. Stephen's church, so far from dying out, as was confidently predicted, has grown to enormous proportions during the past week, and it has been aggravated and embittered by new outrages on the people of St. Stephen's. Not only has that suffering the congregation been driven by policemen from The church built with its own money, but two store of its priests have been removed and assigned to other parishes. The rising: tide of indignation could no longer be ignored in the archiepiscopal palace, and the archbishop attempted to quiet it by a statement through the newspapers, in which he gave garbled extracts from Dr. McGlynn's letters while publishing; his own in full. This publication caused Dr. McGlynn for the first time to break the silence he has maintained ever since bis suspension, and he made public a brief reply showing that be had strictly obeyed the order sent from Rome by Cardinal Simeoni, commanding him to make no more speeches in behalf of the Irish land league or for the cause of Irish liberation. This, however, but added fuel to the flame, and showed how persistent have been the interferences of the cardinal prefect of propaganda in political matters in this country. It found an immediate echo in the cheers for Dr. McGlynn and the hisses for Cardinal Simeoni at the enormous meeting of Irishmen at Madison square on Sunday evening. Corrigan's Defense An Explicit Declaration that Dr. McGlynn was Suspended Because of His Political Opinions— Dispatches from Rome and Evidently Garbled Letters On the evening of Jan. 21 the reporters of the New York press were summoned to the palace of Archbishop Corrigan, and the following statement handed them, which duly appeared in the daily papers of Jan. 22: New York, Jan. 21, 1887. The press of this city has shown so much courtesy toward me in the painful issue that has engaged much general attention for the past few weeks, that I determined this morning, in view also of other reasons which will appear further on in this communication, to make a simple, straightforward statement of the facts in the case, suck as I know them, without personal feeling and without comment, and this communication is intended to be final. First—In August, 1882, the cardinal prefect of propaganda called attention to the fact that certain speeches reported in the Irish World, and attributed to the Rev. Edward McGlynn, “contained propositions openly opposed to the teachings of the Catholic church,” and requested that the clergy of the diocese in general be desired to abstain from political conflicts. This letter was addressed to me, but as until the death of his eminence Cardinal McCloskey I had no jurisdiction over the regular clergy of this diocese, I referred the matter to his eminence, who went for Dr. McGlynn and had a private interview with him. The cardinal then directed me to say in his name, and as a result of this inter view, that the doctor “recognized his errors, professed due sorrow for them, promised to abstain thenceforth from all similar political meetings whatsoever, and finally requested that the cardinal prefect be duly informed of these resolutions.” A faithful report of the interview was drawn up and read word for word to Cardinal McCloskey, approved by him, and made to propaganda. Second—In September, 1882, before this report had time to reach Rome, a second letter came from Cardinal Simeoni, in the name of the sovereign pontiff, ordering Dr. McGlynn to be suspended a dirinis unless the cardinal archbishop thought best to adopt sonic milder measures. In any event the doctor was to be brought back to wiser counsels and made to desist from his recent course of conduct. This letter was handed to Dr. McGlynn to read and ponder over, so that he might shape his course accordingly. Third—In October, 1882, a third letter came from propaganda containing an expression of joy and consolation that Dr. McGlynn had recognized his errors, and gently insinuating that where a scandal has been public the church desires that a public reparation shall also be made. Fourth—In May, 1883, an additional letter called attention to the fact that Dr. McGlynn had not kept his promises made to bis archbishop, and hence the cardinal was requested to forbid mm from pursuing such a kind of life and making inflammatory speeches. A copy of this letter was communicated to the doctor. At the same time the cardinal archbishop added, May 26, 1883, by way of suggestion, that Dr. McGlynn, if he chose, might take his summer vacation in the form of a trip to Rome, and that have an opportunity of making in person a more satisfactory explanation to the cardinal prefect of propaganda. On June 1, 1883, the doctor replied, declining the proffered trip to Rome, and adding: “I shall henceforth refuse to take any part in any such meeting. Even though it be for charitable objects. Furthermore, on July 1, 1883, he caused to be printed it: the “New York Tablet a statement that “he condemned and repudiated any report or interpretation of any words of his contrary to the doctrines of the Catholic church. In October, 1883, I was sent to Rome to represent Cardinal McCloskey at the conference of American archbishops. During this visit Cardinal Simeoni, alluding to Dr. McGlynn's case, stated that his retraction was not satisfactory. In October, l883, Cardinal McCloskey passed to his reward, and the administration of the diocese was intrusted to me. Fifth—Having resumed the practice of speaking in political gatherings, Dr. McGlynn was gently reminded, Aug. 23, 1886, of the impropriety of such conduct. I do not know if Mr. George's name had been mentioned at that time as a candidate for the mayoralty. At all events, my letter simply deprecated interference in politics in general, without thought or mention of any special party whatsoever. To this admonition Dr. McGlynn made no reply. Sixth—On Sept. 29, he sent. Mr. George to see me. As Dr. McGlynn spoke of Mr. George “as his very dear and valued friend,” I thought, the occasion warranted my informing Mr. George of the great risk the doctor “ran in taking a prominent part in politics, hoping thereby that Mr. George would dissuade a friend from exposing himself to clearly foreseen consequences. That same evening the following note was written: 42 Madison avenue. New York, Sept. 29, 1886 Reverend Dear Doctor—I have read with great regret a printed circular in which you and several others call a political mass meeting, to be held in this city on next Friday. You certainly have not forgotten the mandate of the holy father, the letters of the cardinal prefect of propaganda in '82 and '83, nor the renewed promises made by you to his eminence, the late cardinal archbishop. As your bishop, I now forbid you in the most positive manner to attend the proposed meeting in Chickering hall on Friday night, or to take part in future in any political meeting whatever without permission of the sacred congregation of propaganda fide. I am very sorry to be obliged to take this step, but, deeming it a matter of strict duty, I see no alternative. I am, reverend dear doctor, faithfully yours, Rev. Dr. McGlynn. M. A. Corrigan, Abp. To this note Dr. McGlynn replied by saying be would address the mass meeting, notwithstanding the prohibition,. and he was accordingly suspended for two weeks. in a letter of Oct. 2, of which the following is an extract: So flagrant an act of disobedience cannot be passed over. Before accepting the invitation to address the meeting you knew full well the distinct wishes of the S. C. of Propaganda. You were not ignorant of my own mind on the subject, as you expressly alluded to in your note to me introducing Mr. George. The objection, consequently, to your course of action has nothing whatever to do with this or that political party, but is founded on the instructions of the holy see and the nature of episcopal authority on one hand, and of sacerdotal obedience on the other. In view, then, of these facts, and much to my regret, I am constrained to have recourse to ecclesiastical censure. I hereby suspend you from all sacerdotal functions for the space of two weeks from date. Seventh—Next came the sad sight of a Catholic priest riding in an open barouche from poll to poll on election day. Some three weeks after the political campaign was over a pastoral letter was issued enunciating the plain teachings of the sovereign pontiff. A few days later. Nov. 26, the doctrine of Pope Leo XIII was assailed by Dr. McGlynn, although. be says, without adverting to it, and the statement of the holy fat her. that a solution of the conflict between rich and poor was to be found in the touchings of the Gospel, was met by another declaration that the true and only adequate remedy for social evils lay in the abolition of private ownership of land and in the restitution to all men of those rights in the soil that are now unjustly monopolized by a few.