Show CATHOLICS ARCHBISHOP IRELAND GIVES AN j I IMPORTANT INTERVIEW now the Pope Looks Upon Parliaments Parlia-ments of Religions How Far Catholics Ca-tholics Will Be Allowed to CoST Co-ST PAUL Minn Oct 17 Archbishop Arch-bishop Ireland in an interview with the Associated Press representative today to-day said The words of Pope Leo are in no manner of means a condemnation of parliaments of religions He merely prescribes the methods or conditions under which Catholics may take part in them He deems unadvisable the promiscuous assembling of Catholics with men of all forms of religion Buddhists and Mohammedans and non Catholics upon the same platform for the discussion of religious questions The pope no doubt somewhat fears as many others did and do that from such promiscuous gatherings the impressions im-pressions go out into the public mind that all forms of religion are looked upon as of equal value and equal sufficiency ciency The Catholics who participated In the Chicago parliament of religions were not without their misgivings as to the peril of impressions of this kind But circumstances did not suggest nor allow other arrangements than promiscuous pro-miscuous assemblage and in view of the general good expected from their participation in the congress Catholics did not keep themselves aloof satis sats fying their consciences that all things I would be made right by their emphatic em-phatic and repeated declarations that t the principles of the Catholic faith remained re-mained intact and nothing done or said should be taken as placing religions relig-ions on the same footing as the Catholic Cath-olic I But now when congresses or parliaments par-liaments of religions are becoming frequent i fre-quent and seem destined to be permanent per-manent institutions it is felt that such care ought to be taken by Catholics that not even the most delicate and scrupulous conscience among the children chil-dren of the church be alarmed or that the most unthinking nonCatholic be led to misapprehend the Catholic position I po-sition Hence the words of warning coming from the sovereign pontiff I The popes words are I would seem more advisable that Catholics hold their own meetings apart but in order that the usefulness thereof be I not confined to Catholics access is to be given to everybody whether he be a Catholic or one separated from the j I Catholic faith j I Congresses of religions will continue Ito I I-to be held and Catholics may take I part In them under certain wellde j fined conditions Catholics will hold their meetings during the same period i i of time and on the same grounds as the representatives of other faiths or religions but in halls of their own marking In this way their own doctrinal doc-trinal exclusiveness and yet allowing to others the advantages of hearing their decisions All the results that were ever expected from congresses of religions remain such as the allowing of comparative studies of the several I faiths the exhibiting to the world of the fundamental truths scattered i through all of them and the good 1 points of each one although in so I many of them those points be fragmentary I frag-mentary and incomplete And at the same time no Catholic whoever he be will have room for complaint or will find reason for being absent from the congresses The Catholic attendance at congresses wI I in this manner be larger than it otherwise would have been Whenever the religions of the world appear in state and voice their beliefs the Catholic church owes it to herself to and to speak hersel appear so as I to give public testimony to the completeness com-pleteness of the truth which she professes pro-fesses to hold and to tell the nations that she lives and is destined to live through ages Much agitation is at the present time being had In Europe over the proposition to hold a great congress of religions in Paris during the exposition exposi-tion of 1900 The idea of a Paris congress of religions re-ligions has sprung from the great congress con-gress In Chicago two years ago I received such impetus from Rev John Henry Barrows the inspiring and directing di-recting spirit of the congress at Chi asso during his recent visit to France and It will no doubt lead to n great success Catholics may well take part in it Indeed the nopes letter has I cleared the way for i by marking out I the conditions undpr which i mav be had even In punctilious Europe I I punctious am of the mind that this letter of the pope I on congresses in merica is entirely due to this coming Paris con entrely wfll serve a a guide to Catholics in all countries of America or Europe I wherever congresses of religions may j be held I am glad Rome has spoken |