The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-08

Nd CATHOLIC MESSENGER, ST
| TRACT Hoa Tn xun.
The following, published by the catho-
lie Publication Society, and distributed in
cars, omnibuses, &C., has created quite q
sensation.
Is it Honest to saw that tho Catholic Church
! prohibits the use Oft tie Bible-When anybody
who chooses can buy as many as he likes
at any Catholic bookstore, and can see on
the first page of any of them the appreciation
of the bishops of the Catholic Church, with
the Pope at their head, encouraging Catho-
lies to read the Bible, in these words, The
faithful should be excited to the reading of
| the Holy Scriptures" and that not only for
the Catholics of the> United States, but also
! for those of the whole world besidesf
Is 1t Honest to say that Catholics believe
When the priest is regarded by the Catholic
Church only as the agent of our Lord Jesus
Christ, acting by the power delegated to him
according to these words, "WhOse sins you
shall forgive they are forgiven them, and
whose sins you shall retain they are retain
ed I" St. John. Xxx. %.
Is 1t Honest to repeat over and orcr again
hat Catholics pay the priest to pardon tier
siMs-When such d thing is unheard of any
where in the Catholic lChurch-when any
transaction of the kind is stigmatized rs a
grievous sin, and ranked along with murder,
adultery, blasphemy, etc. in every catechism
and work on Catholic theologyf
Is it Honest to persist in saying that Cath0-
lies beIiepe their sims are forgiven, merely by
the confession Of them to the priest, scithout
true sorroso for them or a true purpose to
quit them When every child finds the con-
trary distinctly and clearly stated in the
catechism, which he is obliged to learn be-
fore he can be admitted to the sacramentsf
Any honest man can verify this statement
by examining any Catholic catechism.
Is 1t Honest to assert that the Catholic
Church grants any Indulgence or permission to
commitsin-When an "indulgence," accord
ing to her universally received doctrine, was
never dreamed of by Catholics to imply, in
any case whatever, any permission to COM
NIT the least sin and when an indulgence
has no application whatever to sin until
after sin has been repented of and pardon
ed /
Is 1t Honest to accuse Catholics Of putting
the Blessed Virgin or the Saints in the place
Of God or the Lord Jesus ChristWhen the
Council of Trent declares that it is simply
obtain favor from God, through his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who alone is our Sa-
viour and RECONSIDERATION asking their
prayers and influence with God" is exactly
of the same nature as when Christians ask
the pious prayers of one anotherf
10 u HOucSI 70 UCCuSc OATVaCo " pNytHy
divine .corship to images or pictures, as the
heathens do-When every Catholic indig.
nantly repudiates any idea of the kind, and
when the Council of Trent distinctly de-
clares the doctrine of the Catholic Church in
regard to them to be, "that there is no di-
vinity or virtue in them which should ap-
pear TO claim the tribute of ones. venera-
ton - but that " all the honor which is paid
to them shall be referred to the originals
whom they are designed to represent" Sess.
25. -.-.
Is it Honest to make these and many other
similar charges against Catholics-When they
detest and abhor such false doctrines more
than those do who make them, ana make
them, too, without ever having read a Cath
Ole book, or taken any honest means of as
certaining the doctrines which the Catholic
Church really teachesq Remember the COM
mandment of God, which says: "Ihou shalt
not bear false ,oitness against thy "eighbor."
Reader, would you be honest and do no in
Justice Then examine the doctrines of the
Catholic Church read the works of Catho-
lies. See both sides. Examine, and be fail,
for AMERICANS LOVE FAIR PLAY.