Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1891 — TALK WITH BISHOP CHATARD. [ARTICLE]

TALK WITH BISHOP CHATARD.

He Regards Prussian Catholics 11l Advised as to the American. Church —Xo Jesuit School. Indianapolis Journal. A Journal reporter called upon Bishop Ghatard, of the Catholic Diocese of Vincennes, and asked him if he had read the scheme recently laid before the Pope by Prussian Catholics regarding emigrants to the United States. The Bishop had before him the Journal containing the article, and looked at it from time to time, as he - replied. “The actual truth in regard to this matter,” said the Bishop, “is that these gentlemen, who apparently are none too well advised as to the condition of the Catholic Church in America, are anxious for the spiritual welfare of their countrymen here and think the language is necessary for it. Th»y have not so much in mind the perpetuation of foreign nationality in this country as the perpetuation of the religious belief of the emigrants. If they understood our institutions they would understand that a foreign tongue in this country can scarcely last more than one generation. certainly not through two generations. The children of the emigrants grow up to speak English, and that settles the matter of nationality and the perpetuation of a foreign tongue.

‘As to placing these emigrants, after their arrival here, in congregations of those who speak their own tongue, the Catholic Church in America has always attended to that. You see that instanced in this city jn St. Mary’s Church and the Church of the "Sacred Heart. Both these congregations have German clergymen . Irish priests, or priests of other nationalities, are seldom placed over German congregations, and Germans are not placed over Englishspeaking congregations, or Frenehspeaking congregations. Yet we never have the idea of continuing another nationality in the midst of our American, English-speaking*- nationality. Nor could we do so. The rising generation will attend to that. The other day I saw the boys at the Sacred Heart playing base ball, and the youngsters did not waste a word of German on the great national game. Congregations in this diocese that a few years ago were entirely German in language are now so changed that in no great while they will all be English-speaking people. This thing will take care of itself. In many churches it will soon be necessary to change the preaching from German to English.” “Why have those excellent old gentlemen over the water taken this matter in hand?” “Probably theyhave received some inaccurate information from this side of the water from people who were a little excited oh national customs. I admire a due amount of love for fatherland,but the immigrant should get into accord with the country to which he comes or go home again. As I said before, the Catholic Church always assimilates herself to the people, for she is wise. She also knows the value of silence and waiting. When people get excited, Rome, like a good mother, waits till the child’s temper has gone by. and then she speaks. Speaking of the way Rome adapts herself to people and their customs, go over the world and wherever you may come you will find her priests are with the people in language and in costume. Under the great wall of China you will find a Catholic priest dressed as the people about him, eating rice, wearing a pig tail, perhaps, and a Chinese cap. Take it off and you will find a Frenchman under it.”