The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-23
Bishop Gibbons In Defence of the Con-
feSSiOnal.

tCopy VI MS pampnleb entltleu ~ Inc Oacr8
ment of Penance and the Moral Inf uence O
: Sacramental Confession" It Is written il
reply to q pastoral "Charge" delivered il
May, 1874, in Wilmington, N. c., by RICH
Rev. Thos. Atkinson, d. D., Protestan
, Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina. w.
have carefully read the pamphlet and fnt
it entirely conclusive az refutation o
the stale charges and arguments employed
by the Episcopalian Bishop, 80 far as they
are restated by Bishop Gibbons.
The Right Rev. Bishop states them at
follows: "These two main ideas, respect
ing the Catholic Church, pervade the
Charge viz: the alleged human origin
and immoral tendency of sacramento con-
fession, and the religious superiority of
Protestant over Catholic countries"
AS to the human origin of confession, the
Episcopalian Bishop having stated openly,
in his Charge" that the custom originated
about 1900 years after the time of
our Saviour, Bishop Gibbons finds it
strange that he did not set forth where,
when and how it originated. So ex-
| traordinary an innovation could not
II
On the other hand, lie shows that the Greek
Church, which separated entirely from the
Roman Catholic Church in the ninth CEN
| tury, holds to confession and absolution as
tenacously as do Catholics. Going still
farther back, he shows that the Arians, the
HISTORIANS and the Eutychians, who re-
belled from the Catholic Church in the 4th
and 5th centuries, though their separation
from the Church was utter and extremely
embittered, held on to the doctrine of con-
fession and penance because to this day
the remnants of those great heresies, now
located in considerable numbers in Persia.
Ably ssinia and Malabar, retain that sacra.
ment most firmly. He then gives passages
from St. Basil, st. Ambrose and st. Angus
tine which unequivocally show that the
same sacrament existed in their day. The
quotations from the Bible which show
confession to have been practiced in the
days of the Apostles are familiar to every
one.
AS to the effects of confession on the
spiritual man, Bishop Atkinson says that
the conscience soon becomes enfeebled
and chained and starved " by it; that alb
solution being easily obtained, sins are
committed more readily.
Bishop Gibbons subjects this proposition
to the test of both reason and expert
ence. Professionalism requires repentance
before forgiveness. Cath olicism is more
exacting. 1t requires repentance as earn
estly as does Professionalism, and then it |
requires confession besides. Absolution.
therefore, is not as easily obtained under |
the Catholic doctrine as by that of the |
Protsstants. Consequently SHINING is not
encouraged, but rather discouraged, by
this additional difficulty of obtaining par
don. We think it probable that the Right
Rev. Mr.. Atkinson himself would realize |
this truth if he had to go with humility and |
confess to priest every time he siuned,
instead of merely rolling his eyes upward
and heaving a sigh.
Aud, then, what do facts sayP-Bishop
Gibbons forcibly remarks
The best of US, alas! are not what we ought
to be, considering the graces receive. But
II you seek for canting hypocrites, or coIossald
or perpetrators of we'll laid schemes
IF forgery, or of systematic licentiousness or
Of premeditated violence, you will seek for
such in vain among those who frequent the
There it is. If frequent confession hard
ens and enfeebles the conscience, the
greatest rogues will certainly be found
among the most constant frequent
'rs of the sacrament of penance The
sreat forgers, murderers, swindlers, mon
'Iolists, corrupters of justice, PERU
ers and libertines will be known "a COW
ring devotees Mt the conscience sitting
This would be fact if Bishop
Atkinson's theory were truth. Bnt the .
contrary is the fact-and we'll known fact. ,
There are bad men among Catholics, no |
loubt, but they are bad Catholics too.
They are men, who have seldom, or never,
requented the confessional. Such being I
he fact, what becomest of Bishop Akin ,
on's truth
BishoD Gibbons poes on to ebo,,- a. -