Political Considerations of Vienna Period
their results in the Church.
Here one really cannot serve two masters. And make no mistake: I believe the founding or destruction of a religion is a far greater matter than the founding or destruction of a State, let alone of a party.
Let no one say that the above-mentioned attacks were only self-defense against attacks from the other side. In all ages, obviously, conscienceless fellows have not hesitated to make of religion a tool for their political business (almost always the sole concern of such characters). But just as obviously it is wrong to make religion or a Church responsible for a number of scoundrels who misuse it, for they would probably make anything the servant of their base instincts.
Nothing could suit one of these parliamentary ne’er-do-wells and sluggards better than thus finding an opportunity to justify his political jugglery at least ex post facto. For the moment religion or a sect is made responsible for his personal badness, and is attacked on that ground, the lying fellow summons all the world with loud shouts to witness how justified his behavior has been, and how the salvation of religion and Church is due solely to him and his eloquence. The rest of the world, as stupid as it is forgetful, usually does not recognize him amid the shouting as the real author of the whole struggle, or at least does not remember him, and so the scoundrel has really attained his object.
These crafty foxes know perfectly well that it has nothing to do with religion; all the more will they laugh up their sleeves while their honest but clumsy adversary loses the game, and finally, despairing of man’s honesty and good faith, retires from it all.
In other respects too it would be unjust to make religion as such or even the Church responsible for the misdeeds of individuals. If we compare the greatness of its visible organization with the average imperfection of men in general, we shall have to admit that the proportion of good to bad is better there than almost anywhere else. No doubt there are among the priests themselves those whose holy office is but a means for the satis-
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