The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-02
A Reply to Father Burke.


ITO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The HERALD being the great representative
newspaper Of America, as well as the most liberal
ana truly Catholic, would solicit the favor of a
place in your columns to reply, briefly rs posi-
bic, to statement made by the Very Rev. Thomas
Burke In sermon delivered by him in Jersey City
upon the promises Of Christ Fulfilled only in the
Catholic Church," full and special report of which
appeared in the Irish american OF Saturday, May
,25-a statement which have not seen contradicted
ana which Is calculated to mslead only those of
the Catholic faith, but also such thoughtless
PREDICTING Professionals. as may have been present
upon that occasion, well those who have read,
may yet read such reports OF it have appeared
in the various papers-a statement unsupported by
facts and totally variance with the truth. 1t Is
as follows-
'Afer 1872 years the student of history turns over
Citations OF the Church. in her bishops her popes,
in her councils, and nowhere can he find single
instance OF single line in which she taught sin
ole contradiction (the italics my OWN to herself,
in which the Church ever denied one title or
ioa ofher pferious doctrine, or even changed one
single. feature OF her divine teaching"
Such an assertion is unworthy The source from
which it emanatcd in fact, 1t Is so palpaby incor
rect tnat wayiarIng man, thongh iooi need
ior the student OF history to turn over page
after page of the. records OF the dead
past In order to disprove the statement OF
the reverend father. He has only 10 go back
to the late Ecumcnical Council Previous to tha,
Council it optional for the Catholic to believe
in the iabiy or nallibility ofthc pope but since
then the teachings OF the Church have been so
changed that he dare not reject the dogma upon
pain Of communication Here then. we have one
instance OF a change IN the teachings Of the Caho-
lie Church. But have some Others to bring for
Of Rome A. D. 500 declared that whoever claimed
the title of Universal Bishop was the iorcrunner OF
Anticlrist. Pho Mono not only contradcts his pre-
decessor Gregory the Great in claiming to DC Uni
A versa Bishop, but claims to he what Gregory
never dreamed ol-infalliblel Again, for
4 over eleven centuries the laity were per-
has been changed, and now none but the officiating
priest or priests drink OF it. The celbacy OF the
Gil Of Lateran, A. D. 1l23, but was expressly pro-
tested against by the Council OF Nice, A.. D. 325-a
a images and relics in public worship was FIRST pub
licly sanctioned in the second Council OF Nice, A.
D. ISL: but this was condemned by the Council of
Eheus, A. ID. 305. and also by Gregory the Great.
4 And to conclude the Councils of Laodcea and Con-
stantinope rejected the Apochryphal books rs I'M
Z canonica: but the Council of Trent contradlcted
these two nfallible Councils by declaring them to
be canoncal, and they are now or equal authority
with the inspired Word.
Now in view Of the above facts, which challenge
any Roman Catholic 10 disprove. and of the truth OF
which none knows better than the reverend father,
y am at q loss to understand how he could have
been guilty Of SO gross mistake; but am willing
TO attribute IL TO sudden night OF the magma
ton or i0DsnS RngatB or to anything, in fact save
with an intent 70 deceive; but | do trust Father
Burke will IL to be his duty to correct his ms-
take In order to avoid suspicion, and TO be more
: on his guard IN the future. For my own part. !
would have thought 10 unworthy OF notice had he
not been institutng comparison between the sta
bity OF the Catholic Church and the eyerchanging
doctrines, he was pleased to call them, Of the
Protestants am Protestant, and am not afraid
OF all honest criticisms but am free 70 confess to
decided repngnance to the use OF anything cal
Professionalism at the expense Of any other religious
sect ApoogIzing for having occupied much of
your valuable space, am sir respectfully,
GEORGE LEE, $50 Kent avenue.