New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-07
THE C4THOLIC CASE STATED.
AN ADDRESS BY MONsIGNoR CAPEL.
PRINCIPLES on WHICH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH


REsTs-THE DISCUSSION.
The Nineteenth Century Club met on TUESDAY
evenngin Courtlandt Pamers house, at NO. III Last
Twenty Arst-st The parors were filled by the guests MI
Palmer said that religion OF all kinds would De inc thee
of discussion and introduced Monsgnor Capei' VINO
spoke for twenty minutes He was dressed as usual III
dark blue robe faced with red cord He prefaced MS
address by saying that he had been invited TO state ne
nrincinles ON which the belief Of the Catholic Church
rests and that the frank earnest way in which the nN
tation was given showed that the members OF the euo
desired to what is truth He then continued as Io
lows;
Yeti could not hide from myself that past experience
nroves the almost nsupcrable difficulty to get satls-
factory hearing for Catholicism Pre(uace anu 10TH
arc proverblaily deaf and blind. Unfortunately Doin
have PLAYED a great part for the past four centuries III
perverting the teaching of the Catholic Church anu ~
trbuting her doctrines she not only never hSu Ut
which she has always repudiated. The past dld not
encourage much to enter the lists however, HT ia
courtesy assured me that should nave an attehtno
hearing The literary OF your members MADE me
feel they would In common fairness hot d o"nuSb
teach me what is Catholic doctrine but be GOOD enough
accept my statement of i as true debating ya s
position. not their pIeconceyed notions inc pd her
The impregnabe position OF the Cathohc o1ulch, g
inexhalsble power for good, render her leaIIess ho
her invite discussion seeking no FAVOR puI Nv
These facts induced 10 accede TO your request -u
only and sincere regret Is, That more copetthl anu
wOrther champion has not undertaken IHe d dis
The length of time granted for statement anu -
cussion will be best spent in directing all our % w
the foundations which the supeIstrucufc o tnc az,
Ole faith rests; and in doing this it Is OF paramount ma 80
pOrtance that we use our words IN tne sae t
bear with me II to lay undue stress ON the slghh
cation of certain words. -. 4, -, dorrod
with intellect to know truth with will to do good nc
gifted with reason which among Its othcr caIaonucs
and nv its own power and light can know OF inc eAstcnco
of God of the Immortality OF mans soul and OF man re-
spOnsble dependence OH God This III Ul i
words natural religion and rests for us basis on 'e III
tegence and discursive power OF the human SOU,
H. The Catholic Church holds that besles TINS nata
knovledoe concerning God mans destiny, aud mans
responsibitv there Is another body OF trutI calIeu
Pc Peiaton irving still more extensive knowledge CON
nd
natural religion, nasmuch as Is no rOuIct Of
scientific research but is impaired by COD itts 9'
on the capabity reason but on the veraey ana koo
mes of God BY such Revelation the mind Is cOnneu
in Its own supernatural knowledge, and Is further GU
riched bv truths concerning God and man to winch
reason by itself could never have attained n,o,or
This Revelation began with the promise OF heGer o
and ended with the Ascension of Christ Al Ho3s
since formulated by the Church but explicit dec"i
tons of the several truths contained IN keyeauG.
hold that such Revelation Is embodied III certain sP'
II is Of erave import that we bear in mind the Catholic
Church I'm speaking OF Cod manifested by reason anu ny
really and essentially distinct from the world minnie III
intelligence and will and IN all perIecuohs' PEI
sonal God creating all men to be saved dcSlLs Ly ~
walton of ALL and putting within the reach OF al Ine
necessary help for such salvation -, o1 p,.
clation there can he any real discrepancy sct
the God who gave the one gave tne 3ttI ny t IN
innortaut TO remember the gulf separating the lacIs III
nature from the scientific theories advanced by men
The latter are Oftcntmcs from INSURGENCY Oh ogScrN
tion or other crude, inaccurate Tor raise s4cA
theories the statement does not refer We insist l DC
tuoen the facts and laws in nature known by Reason,
AND The doctrine of Revelation there IS and never he
antagonism; consequently that Reason must he the
gamer in strength and direction 10y this new mahesl-
ton OF Gods mind. ,. H.. ,,oo
~ The dimne,s of mans knowledge about his Crea-
tor the weakness of mans moral nature the RESPONSE
Gty OF man to Cod and The goodness and justice OF
mans Maker not only rendered Revelation possible nut
also necessary and the Catholic Church holds that kew
eation being made, there Is the need OF an anhOrIG
Teacher and Guardian OF II, so that IN an lncs IOI an
persons and under all circumstances the mdlVdual may
know the teaching of God.
This impes infablc divine authority, exercised
though IL be through weak, sinful, 1dIlple agents
The commission not the individual j. to be looked az
Reason has the right to examine the credentials OF such
commissions but being convinced, the commission Is
genuine and has emanacd from God, who cannot deceive
nor deceived Reason has but one duyto accept the
message though may be beyond the ken OF intellect
such divine and therefore nfalible authority was
given TO the Organic Body called into existence by
Christ and which received Pcntccost Sunday as us
perpetual prnsipe OF life the Holy Ghost. From that
day forward divine organism existed on carth
easily discovered by the Rock, Peter on which u was
formed and by the marks OF unity, apostolclty catnD
citv and holiness which or the essence OF It's belg
and purpose This is the Church OF Christ, the Plr ana
Ground of Truth.
In the discussion following Mgr. Capc's address the
Rev. Dr. james NJ Pullman dvelt upon the slores OF the
Protestant Church. saying that Catholics believe IN the
Catholic Church. but that Professionals believe In liberty
Rabbi Gohe and I. b. Wakeman, an agnostc were the
other speakers.