The Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Dr. O'Dwyer, is certainly
the one prelate in Ireland who does not shrink from popular attack. A great Limerick meeting was announced for last Sunday to protest against the Papal Rescript. Accordingly, Dr. O'Dwyer wrote a very calm and dignified letter to the Mayor of Limerick, stating "authoritatively and officially" (these are his own words). that "the recent decree of the Holy Office, approved and sanctioned as it has been by our Holy Father, binds the conscience of those whom it concerns; that it is a grievous sin for any Catholic to disobey it, and a much more grievous sin under any protest to deny the Pope's authority to issue it." "You will observe," he calmly adds, "that the clergy, who understand the binding power of this decree, will take no part in this meeting." And the Bishop was absolutely right. An uproarious meeting, attended, it is said, by 10,000 people, was held ; but the clergy were conspicuous by their absence, not only from the Limerick meeting, but from the various other Sunday demonstrations against the Papal Rescript which took place in various parts of Ireland.
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