St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-07
The CathoIic Cathecisn,.

| The new Roman Catholic catechiSm, pre-
pared and enjoined by order of the Third
Plenary council at Baltimore, has just been
published and exciteS much interest in
Catholic circles. 1t is intended for the in
structiOn Of children preparatory to con-
firmation, and is modelled to large extent
on Buffers catechism, which is Ill general
use throughout Ireland. The "Catechism
of Christian Doctrine" has been prepared by
Bishop Spaldng of Peoria. AS al epitome
of Catholic doctrine it is of interest, not
only to communicates of that church, but
also to all who call themselves Christians.
1t may not be Improbable for doctrine
for correction and for reprOOf'' to give q
brief synopsis of tile contents of the book,
with an extract or so embodying its teach
ings on controverted points.
The church is defined to be ''the cOngre-
CATION of all those who profess the faith OF
Christ, partake of the same sacramentS and
are governed by their lawful pastors under
one visible head" 1.-The Pope" it says,
''the bishop of Rome, is the visible head of
the church because he is the successor OF
st. Peter, whom Christ made chief of the
apostles and visible head of the church., :"
which Christ founded ito teach, govern,
Sanctify and save all men," Then follows
the inquiry: care all bound to belong to
the church," Answer: .'All are bound to
belong to the church, and he who knows the
church to be the true church and remains
out of it cannot be saved" Some other
doctrines Oh church authority are as follows:
The attributes of the church are three:
Authority, infallibiity and indefectibility.
BY the authority of the church 1 mean the
right and power which the pope and the
bishops, as the successors OF the apostles,
have to teach and to govern the faithful.
By the infallibility Of the church l mean
that the church cannot err when it teaches a
doctrine of faith or morals.
The church teaches infallibly when it speaks
through the pope and bishops united in gen
eral council, or through the pope alone when
he proclaims to all the faithful a doctrine Of
faith or morals.
By the indefectiblity of the church mean
that the church. as Christ founded it, will
last till the end of time.
These attributes are found in their fitness
in the pope, the visible head of the church,
whose infallible authority to teach bishops,
priests and people in matters of faith or
morals will last to the end OF the world.
The lesson on matrimony differs in form
considerably from Buffers catechisn, and
has special reference perhaps to the altered
conditions of life in this country. Its teach
ings are that Christian man and woman
cannot be united in lawful marriage in any
other way than by this sacrament, and that
the marriage bond cannot be dissolved by
any human power. 1t also provides that
the church alone has the right to make laws
concerning the sacrament, although the
state has the right to legislate concerning
the civil effects of the contract. 1t also for
bids the marriage of Catholics with nom
Catholics.
On the subjects of hell and heaven, which
are now so much discussed, there are the
following answers:
The rewards or punishments appointed for
mems souls after the particular judgment are
heaven, purgatory and hell.
He'll is state to which the wicked are con-
demned, and in which they are deprived of
the sight of God for all eternity, and are in
dreadful tOrments.
Purgatory is the state in which those suffer
for time who die guilty of venial sins, OF
without having satisfied for the punishment
due to their sins.
The book is sold by the Catholic pub
fishers for 5 cents, and seems to meet with
general approval.