The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

282 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.Perhaps a simple illustration will present to youin a clearer light the odious character of the penallaws to which I have alluded. Suppose the government of the United States were to issue a generalorder requiring the clergy of the various Christiandenominations to be educated in government establishments, and forcing them to take an oath beforeentering on the duties of the ministry forbidding,;also, the ecclesiastical authorities to appoint or remove any clergyman without permission of thecivil power at Washington. Would not the American people riseup in their might, before they wouldsubmit to have such galling fetters forged on theirconscience? And yet this is precisely the odiouslegislation which the Prussian governmentis enacting against the Church. And the Catholic Church,in resisting these laws, is not only fighting her ownbattles, but she iscontending for the principle offreedom of conscience everywhere.But, thank God, we live in a country where libertyof conscience is respected, and where the civil constitution holds over us the segis of her protection,without intermeddling with ecclesiastical affairs.From my heart, I say: America, with all thyfaults, I love thee still. And perhaps at thismoment there is no nation on the face of the earthwhere the Church is less trammeled, and where shehas more liberty to carry out her sublime destiny,than in these United States.For my part, I much prefer the system which