Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-13

ciples must be allowed until the historical
basis of the church is overthrown.
Pass in review all the objections
what are they? They are divided
into three classes. In one class are private in
terpretations of texts of scripture and of state
ments of writers of history. The same texts
and statements receive at other hands differ
emit interpretations, among Protestants them
selves. Is the objector infalhble? If not, all
he can say is that in his private opinion, the
church is wrong, but the church can very
legitimately discard his private opinion, UNI
less he can show all contrary opinions to be
decidedly against reason. Protestants will
quote scripture against the church. They
have in the first instance no right to do it;
they are debarred from quoting it, except as a
historical document, until they have proven it
to be inspired. But whatever their interpreta-
ton may be, is not, even humanity speaking,
the Interpretation of the whole Catholic church
entitled to at least as much regard?
In the second class are all irrelevant objec-
tions, resulting from mlsapprehension Of the
case. For instance, arguments are drawn from
the lives of bad Catholics, as if the church's
teaching could be lessened in its authority,
because some of her children, using their free
will disobey her. In the third class / place
Misrepresentation of her doctrines, 1t is an
and to offer to the ridcule of the world as the
teaching of the church, what she expressly
condemns. Quite another thing is it to ex-
anime her teachings as they are, and to refute
them. Here, | am sorry to say, is the great
sin of Protestant contoversialists. They
never present, in their real light, the doctrines
of the church. Instead of taking her doc
trines from her catechisms, the DEGREES of her
councils and pontiffs, they look for them in
D.ofn ifarc IF fhair III not
minister will define properly the doctrine on
indulgences before his Protest ant audience?
1t will be ga permission to SIM" ''the
pardonipg of sin without repentance
for money" Who, before discuss
ing the doctrine and practice Of
confession will seek information as to it's re-
suits from those best fitted to tell them? Not
to the young man who goes monthly to his
confession and who knows the strength
against temptation which the sacrament gives
him, not to the pure maiden whose virginia.
sinessness is the fruit of the confessional
will the Protestant controversionalist go for
nformation; he will draw on his own fancy,
or perhaps he will hearken to the writings of
some impure wretch, who pens for pelf filthy
pages to please filthy world. For Catholics
who know their catechism, who feel through
every faculty of their soul the blessed influences
of the faith and the sacraments of the church, it
y
jections. They don't mind thea. They only
wonder how men can advance them. For
mont Catholics, l beg to commend them tO.two
things, if they would know what truth there
may be in such objections. A catechism and
an hours interview with Catholic man or
woman, who practices aswell as believes, who
is every Sunday at mass, and few times at
least, during the year, in the confessional and
at the holy table.
have given a key to the answer to all OBJ.
jections that can be brought against the
church, not one that has not been refuted a
thousand times.
word to my Protestant friends. You are
not Catholics because you have not studied
the church. 1 know too well your sincere
love of truth to persuade myself that
if you knew her as she is, you
would still repel her. can excuse to
a very great degree your want of knowledge
regarding her. Professionalism has had from
its beginning but one arm to oppose the church
and that was Misrepresentation. Misrepresenta.
tons of her history, of her doctrines, of her
disciplinary laws have poisoned the whole
course of English literature, and have become
part of the traditional thought of the En-.
glsh speaking peoples. A strong effort is
required to break through ones surroundings,
and to unlearn the mental training of life
time But the ain: is worthy of the effort-it
is truth. Bear with me if remind you of your
obligation in conscience to seek the fulness OF
Christ's revelation, as it is found only in his
church. For those who through 40 fault of
neglect to study, or no resistance, however,
light to Gods grace, are outside of the pale OF
the church, God and His church have no words
of anger. They are in invincible Ignorance,
and invincible Ignorance, because invincible
is no sim But the ignorance that excuses from
sin ceases, if we doubt of our position and do
not thoroughly examine whether it is sound
or not if we perceive even in the distance
rays of light and do not follow them. The
church condemns Professionalism.
1t is mans errors set up in opposition to
Gods truth. The church in loyalty to Christ's
command bids all men gather around her to
receive through her hands truth and grace,
and she proclaims it ehenious sin to remain
away voluntarily from her pale. But she IS a
tender mother, and those who in the midst OF
sect and schism love truth and earnestly follow
it, although but fragments are allowed them,
she looks upon as in spirit her own children,
and recognizes them as such. Not all who are
in the body of the church, within the visible
pale of the chu :ch ,partake of the life of the
church; they are dead though existing near
the founts of life. Not all who are outside
the body of the church are deprived of the life
of the church. If by baptism they were made
children of Christ; if they love truth earnest
ly, and no voluntary offense
stains their souls they will be saved.
This is Catholic doctrine, and desire to state
it,as the church is often misunderstood on this
point. But even while being saved through
lnvincble ignorance, the lot of such is sad
if we compare it to what would be their
lot in the church, where the fullness of Gods
mercies would be showered upon them. Those
who are good in Professionalism feeding on
fragments of Catholic truth, despite the sys-
tenn of Professionalism, would be UNNECESSARILY
better were they Catholics, as I may add those
who are bad Catholics in the church, despite
the church would be worse yet-surely no bet
term Protesantism.
"who are not OF this fold These also 1 must
bring and they shall hear my voice, and there
shall be but one fold and one shepherd"