The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-26
For the Central Presbyterian
Letter from Bishop Keane,


Letter from Bishop Keane.
Aessrs Ea'tors,-Dr. Witherspoon, in
his attempt at quoting from the moral
theology of st. Liguori in your issue of
January 18th, has fallen into several
serious errors, calculated to do grievous
injustice to the public reputation of Cath
olics for truth, honesty and morality in
general. would deem myself very
guilty if l failed to correct such misrep-
resentations when the opportunity is
granted me. [ will be careful to respect
the courtesy of your columns, by strictly
contining myself to the misrepresentation
in his article. In reviewing it, 1 follow
the same edition of ST. Liguori from
which he quotes, namely, that published
in Paris in l845, under the supervision
of P. Mich. Heilig.
L. DR.. Wltherspoon introduces his quo
tatlons by stating the authority attributed
to st. Liquors. writings in the Catholic
Church. as follows:
He has not only been canonised as a saint. ("
which implies that there is no error in his writ
ings. but he has also been raised to the rank of
a"Doctor of the Church." which implies that
his teaching is to guide Bishops and clergy in
forming their judgments on difficult cases and
to be a standard whereby they themselves are to
be Judged"
Now the canonization of Saint does
not imply that there is no error in his
writings; but only that nothing in them
has been found deserving of ecclesiastical
censure," which has an entirely different
meaning AS to what is here asserted to
be implied by an authors being raised to
of off ho
never heard of such decision. In as far
as it implies that the teachings of any
Doctor of the Church must be follo,Oed as
a standard Of truth or rule of Judgment,
such is assuredly not the teaching of the
Catholic Church 1t is only the unani-
nous agreement of them all on any point
(aI,lonin,is consensus Potrum) that must
thus be followed. Where such unanimity
does not exist, no such obligation exists.
In Catholic theologies, whether dogmatic
or moral, this unanimity of teaching, or
freedom of opinion, is always clearly
stated, as the Moral Theology in oues-
ton abundantly illustrates. This, 1 may
be allowed to say by the way, will re-
mind DR.. Witherspoon of mistake he
fell into some time ago as to the applica-
ton of the term "unanin,a8 consensus
PatSmn." Now especially in regard to
st. Liguori it has again and again been
decided that no one is bound to follow
the decisions given by him, rather than
those of other approved authors, if ones
conscience prefer the latter. And many
approved theologians differ from him in
many points. This is explained by what
follows.
2. DR.. Witherspoon is mistaken in rep
resenting the casuistic decisions of St.
Liguori as showing "what kind of doc
trines and precepts will be taught to our
people if the Roman Catholics should be
able" etc. st Liquors. Moral Theology
was written, not for the people, nor for
preachers, but for confessors, to enable
them to decide what guilt there may be
on any individual conscience, in regard
to any individual case. Hence foiiog
two most important consequences, which
DR.. Witherspoon has overlooked, and
which give different color to the whole
question. First, although in TEACHING
the people we are bound to inculcate the
highest morality, yet the guilt in con-
science of any individual transpressor,
will depend on his individual circum-
stances, and no one is to be held guilty
beyond what is clearly proved against
him, the presumption being in his favor.
These are evident principles of justice
and they explain not only why good au-
thorities may differ in the decision of
case but also why the tendency in casu-
istic decisions is to lean toward mercy
rather than toward justice, as far as
principle and truth allow. Second, sub.
jects are therefore treated in Moral The
ology which could not be treated in teach
ing the people. A minister of God is
bound to give direction to any one who
comes to him in doubt or trouble of con-
science. He must be able to give decis-
ions on many points which could not be
treated in public instructions; and he
must have authors to guide him whose