New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-25
TIE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND LNTEAt
PERANCE.

To The Editor If The " ]. TriLuHG
SIR: In some remarks o. yours, published in The
TRIBUNE of this morning, commendatory OF the laud-
able zeal manifested by the RI. Rev. Bishop Of New
ark against the vice OF IntemperaDce, ! think you
have fallen into as regards both the the
ologv the logic and the social circumstances on which
q right Judgment of the case involved would neccs-
sarily depend.
First: You assume that the Catholic Church is
bound to exscind from her communion all Incorporate
persons for the reason, as you alege that Protestant
DENOMINATIONS have adopted that rule with regard TO
their ipdis idual church mem bers.
Second: While you give credit to the Catholic
Church for be- seadIast denunciatOn and reprobaton
Of drunkenness, you blame her for not confounding
tie u.e with the abuse of intoxicating beverages.
think few words of explanation will be sutf1clent
to modify your severe judgment on both these ponte.
The Catholic Church does not make an exemption
from the moral inftmes OF human nature a con-
dtion sine qua non OF membership IN her community;
She denounces the and exhorts the SINNER 10 aVo
il. She prays for him. she rebUhes him. she exhorts
bin to better life. But she has not adopted the
principle Of making him vrtuous by the application
Of any purely human power, except when legitlhatey
employ I'd in its own sphere. Hence she has no hope
of max ing men pious by The force Of human leglsa.
ton, or the benevolent tyranny of public opinion.
She retains the good and the bad, except when they
officially renounce her doctrine OF faith and morals.
In this way she has to bear the disgrace OF compris-
lDg within her ample domain many who are lar IRON
being an honor 70 the unsulied purity Of her teach
ngs whether as regards incompetence or other
vices. But a. matter Of fact, temperance
ia distinguishing virtue among the Nations
that are Catholic. There is probably more
drunkenness in the Cities OF London, Glssgow,
New-York and Stockholm than there Is IN the Itallan
Peninsula, France, Spain and Portugal, taken to-
cether-a feet which proves that where Catholclty
prevails, drunkenness may be ranked as one OF the
iarest vices of those who claim to be under her
guidance
Hence YOU NAV infer, what is tie fact that the
Catholic Church may be compared 20 that net men.
toned in the Gospel which comprised good hshes ana
bad but in regard to which the Prince OF apostohca
fishermen is to make the discrinhnati9h-"hl N
other words meaps the distinction to be ultimately
made between the elect and the reprobate. IL you
would Judge Of the influence OF the Catholic rehglon
Oh morals generally, you must toxic thus view as your
standpoint. But if you take the protestant start
point fer such case You Will be likely 10 40 ilu''
tice both to one party aud TO the Other'
The Protestant denominations rarely admit to menu
ber,Lip except such as according 10 thcr standard,
are entitled to be ranked, even in this world, as
members by election well rs by grace consequently,
millions aud millions of Protestabts IN ms country are
for the most part out ofmembeishp with any Christian
depouipati.n. Their crimes aud scandals DO no.
bring blush upon the select number VINO aIe caiou
church members. Whether it Is wse 10 thus Gnu.
them out from the portals of religious training,
question which has already been decided by tie prac
tiCe of Protestant discipline.
But again: j: is TO De remarked that no meHoeI
of Protestant Church would be recognized as
SUCH if he became notorious drunkard. Yet,
the fall of such members themselves Is not an
unfeQu.bt occurrence. And u great scandal mas
resulted from the fac. that among those Protestant
millions who ale either left thrown out into
exterior darkness BY the discipline OF their hereditary
oreeds have come 10 acquire certain dlstrust Ill re-
gard to the very individuals and the whole class o.
those who rank highest in church-Inembership. Inc
latter by the very nature OF ,he case claim to DC AL
that the Gospel requires. But the lapses have oeeh
20 frequent among them and Oftentimes so startling
not 50 much indeed regards drunkenness as In relief
10 other crimes such - forgery de!aceton, anu
disboreety in great variety OF ways, involIins tne
ruin Of widows ard orphsnsthat wi zen they idu u Is
as if religion had fallen with OF through them.
The CsthOhc Church makes no pretelsIon 10 the 10
an i,s!biliy of grace. Her maxim Is tha: lie VINO
sthndeth should De careful lest ne fall.
You perceive, therefore, that The role for ionning
right il gment regards the moral cOnduc, Oh
lies should be in justice according the point OF We"
from which the Church regards h duties. 20, aso
il we iuCged OF Protestant morals from la-AoAc
uort If view We could hardly o. just. But nom re
Protestant point vi view fau from the siandafl %
evangelical morals when il happens - u reco5e-Lec
cLurs Il mber is Ike fall into perl!,ion. -.
Secondly, You lag GOwn Ir Ca'holicS me pm .p."
OF oial abstinence the only safe principle Ia tu
N.u are perfectly correct since j. - clear tnA L. 10
shall kee9 s.eadf4,tly AWAY from cou'act VIZ
FIRE shall ever by possibility - burned 10 "' L:
- aiso Il riay he as.tr.ea iuia..b.5 trtSu M
~ Nan W. shall Keep clear 81 NJ TIE ma Ems ~
r.-ary for the sigL6tuf- ~ hr hall ever o. ~
yicsG of forgery. Bat j. does not follow ina e'u'
non is TO De abolished t1'ulu.Vus appfeh7''f'' -
T." a'u'e~ 81" S'icl.i. may bed. IL
You say, ". practical iaDk s-s could F| 70" 81
Che o'ore, IL me C.Ar. Ut If,pt, viii, 10" % h",'
a'r GO COTTON - roo- mu'h el-i-r ~ n 'i' 10
nsl al hoc cuucy.ti,ls dealt OUT aInJ-t CIV =