Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-01

not the means or information Ill tifeii hohuS as
they receive from others the supposed knowledge
which they boast to be in possession of-and as 1t
is but common justice to hear Doth siaes Oh the
question:" have determined to lay before Tue
public true and Catholic exposition OF every
thing connected with our Church government
must here. nv Christian friends, beg leave
to ask the following question, and, al tne same
time, to request from you, IN the casuor oa youI
denominations of Christians, especially IN this
Stree country leagued against the Catholic
Church. No matter how great the discrepancy
between them respecting what they believe, and
what tbey do not believe: whether the Christian
Religion be revealed by God, or the invention OF
man: whether Christ. the Son of God, took flesh
of the Virgin, and united together, in one and the
same person, his Divinity with our humanity,
and in that capacity suffered for the sins OF man
kinds or that the history, the supposlton OF his
being God, is all fable, and that there Is no
such thing as Trinity; that God Is one IN per-
son as well as one in Nature-no matter, say,
how much the different denominations called
Christians, differ upon the most essential points
of religion, they never wage war against one ano-
ther-but we find them combined against the
Catholic Church. | wish to know the reason.
The Unitarians deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ,
and they are not prosecuted; the Catholics pro-
fess it, and they are objects OF persecution.
ask the question, WHY all this? Falsehoods are
circulated against the Catholic Church, and be-
lieved as truths-no notice whatever taken OF
other Churches. | ask again, why all this!
! Though the Catholic child, in his infancy, be
taught :'to believe in love. serve, and obey, one
true living God, and no MORE" (Cathol'c Cate
chism) the whole body of Catholics are stigmatiz-
ed with the opprobrious epithet of Pagan ldola-
tiers! | am, my friends, not mentioning what
has been said of us, but am relating what IS,
in this town, said against us; and If any one
will demand of me proofs, he shall be furnished
with them. Let me then again ask, why at this!
Did ever the Catholic Church condescendW shg-
matiZe any of her dissenting brethren with the
odlous names of Pagans or Idolaters? Why this
general league against the Catholic Church. l
have heard persons of other denominations COM
plain that the Catholic Church denounced them
as Heretcs, and that it was Liberal and uncha-
ritable to do so. But behold the difference of
the charge: BY Hereto, the Catholic Church
understands person who adheres to has own err
roneous opinions, haowingb and wiLingly, be-
cause he is too proud to acknowledge his error;
but what shall say of Pagan and Idolater?-
who will give me an explanation of these terms!
They need none-they speak for themselves.
Notwithstanding the boosted charity OF other
Sects who call themselves charitable, If there be
more meaning in actions than in words, must
pronounce that it would appear, that where cha
rity is talked of most it is the least to be found.
Let me ask, can any man be termed charitable
man, who is an unjust man? Can any man be
said to love his neighbor, when he yilifes his cha
racter! | believe not. Yet this is the case at
present Prospect individual feelings as fellow
men; bat when it becomes my duty, as Priest
of the Holy Catholic Church, must do away
with personal feeling, and speak the truth with
out fear of offence from any one. My duty as
Priest, placed by my superors over the Catholic
congregation of Alexandra, Notwithstanding my
respect for persons as men and citizens. compels
me to say that several Clergymen in this town,
whose duty ought to be to teach their congrega-
tons the truth, have departed from their station,
and sanctioned. by their names and purses, ly-
ing, scandalous production, defamatory of the
Catholic religion. The Catholic Church is call
ed names, at which decency and modesty would
blush. And this, as | have observed, is patron
lied by several Clergymen in town. Can we
be surprised at the ignorance of the laity, when
Clergylnen evince such gross ignorance OF the
tenets of our faith? Let me assure you, my
Christian friends, that do not make use of this
language through any improper feeling Ibelieve
that the act was rash one, and that they had no
idea of the scurrility fthe production when they
subscribed for it; that, had they been aware of
its tendency, instead of contributing to its dsse
! nination, they would have prevented its circula-
ton. They would have said, why make enemies
amongst the professors Of Christianity? Is not
the object of our mission "peace on earth to men
of good will" Can the Gospel be propagated by
any other mode? This think they would have
said.
Ibelieve that many are well disposed and will
ling to hear what the Catholic Church has to say
in vindication of the charges brought against Ler
With the blessing of the Almighty God, will
vindicate her from the foul charges alleged against
her. | do it in self-defence, and to spread the
real doctrines of the Catholic Church wider and
wider; do it, to induce those who may have hi
therto been blinded by prejudice, to open their
eyes to the light of evidence; and if they do not
become members of the Church, they will, at
least, cease from being its prosecutors. This
hope.