American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-10-27
I'M the, N. Y. Christian Adcocdte and Journt
FAITH OF A CATHOLIC.

FAITH OF a CAT1IoLIC.
The essential creed of Roman
Catholic consistsin single Article of
faith. A man may believe in the ec-
clesiastical supremacy of the Pope.
transubstantiation, in the intercession
of saints, in anatomical relics, in the
immaculate conception of Mary, in phr-
gatory, penance, holy water, baptismal
regeneration, aud extreme nnctinn: in
confession and absolution. in holy coats,
candles, and .winking Madonnas; and,
after all, he may not be true Roman
Catholic. If he receives these dogmas
and practices upon the ground of his
own reason and judgment; and holds
himself at liberty to relain change, and
add to his opinions, as he may in the
exercise of his own free understanding
eiic. A man cannot be free and be a
Z, Romanist. The one article of faith up
on which Catholic exercises volition
is that which relates to the claim of the
4 church to determine for him what he
must believe and what he must do. If
no receives the Catholic Church, that
4 is the clergy of it, as the abiding voice
and power of Christ, then he is Catho-
lie. Here his creed begins and ends.
To receive the dogmas of the Church
is hereafter mere obedience-d duty: to
do what it commands is mere conse-
quence. II is nonsense to say that
those dogmas are his opinions. He has
no opinion about those matters. To
have opinions suppose the liberty to en-
sHuire and determine--to hold or reject.
The Catholic has no such liberty He
sdoes not often chose to obey the Church.
4sThe clergy demands his obedience IN
j the, name of God, and be yields it, naa
Z because he pretsrs, for hehas no rigf9
+ to do tho contrary, but because he can.
not contend with the Almighty.
q The councils of the Church, compo.
Sed Of the rSigher clergy assumed to
speak by tho inspiration eff God. They
s<claim for their DEGREES the veneratioI,
due to Scriptures. They decide all ques.
cions of creed and mprals in tho name
and by authority of the Holy Ghost
That is not all; thoy claim the sanction
Of inspiration not only for what they
shall decide hereafter. The Catholic
creed is complete, because it consists
only in receiving the Church as the abb
ding presence and power Of Chris; but
he d"ginas of the Church are never
completed. SO far as uttered the Cath
oIlc receives them so far as un uttered
he receives them; IN future, and holds
himself To obedience when required. -
A.. IL. T.. n, Z y
bedience in the late decree of the I'm.
maculare Conception of Mary. Up TO
he moment when tho pope in council
decided the affirmative, it was an open
theological question. Now tha, he has
spoken, It's All article of faith, which
must be received in order to salvation:
and received it is. aem con. though not
declared by an OGcuInenical Council. -
Had it pleased the pope and bishops to
decroe that republics are rebelIions a.
cainst God, the Catholics must have 70.
ceiyed the dogma, or become Protes-
tant; but to become Protestant is ac
4 cording TO their honest conviction, To he
damned; but when the choice is given
between political liberty and eternal
salvation, no sane man will hesitate
which to- choose. a
The Council of Constance decretd.
"that this Council, assembled III lIe
name of tho Holy spirit. Representing
the universal Church, aud constituting
d General Council, had its power imme.
diately from Jesus Christ; that every
one, whatever might be his estimate or
lion;tv evep nopal was obliup1 tn nb.,,
it in that which regarded faith exterpa.
tion of schisn, and the general reform
of the Church The same declaration
was mace by the Council of Basle,--
(See Salmon, Docteur de Serbonne, on
the Utility of Councils, chapter 2d.)--
The same writer declares that "the
certainty of as dogma resting upon The
decision ofgeneral council, is as great
asif it had beod drawn from the Holy
Scriptures. Hence it follows that oil
their DEGREES, having for their author the
Truth itself, have character Of infal.
lioility, both as regards the doctrine of
the faith and good morals" We SUI.
pose that this is iodispu,ably the doc
trino of the Catholic Church. l
Itfollows, then, that whenever it may
be necessary, "for tho extirpation Of
.scbism," to put an end to our republic,
decree Of general council, or per-
haps even Of His Majesty tho pope
will bind the conscience of every Cath.
olic as effectively as though the decree
"should be drawn from tho Holy Scrip. /
tures," OF epohen by Christ himself