The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-05-13
The Catholac Church on the LII
euSf Question::
N. O. ChristiaH Advocate. ]


In. o. ChristiaH Advocate
The Catholic Plefiary Council
held in the City Of Baltimore, IN
November, 1884 was s notable gath.
ering. All the Bishops and various
representatives Of the church were
present and deliberated for weeks,
Their conclusions were published, oil
course in the Latin tongue, and
were not promptly transmitted by
messenger TO Rome for the Pope
consideration and formal approval.
Much was said at the time Of the
DEGREES agreed upon and extracts
therefrom published in newspapers.
Those publications, however, were
unofficial and doubtless inaccurate.
The DEGREES have been returned
with the Pope's approval and have
been officially promulgated by the
primate Of the church Of America.
We find in the Independent OF New
York, liberal extracts from the care
fully translated documents.
The general scope of the DEGREES
and principal provisions as they
concern clergy and laity, will be
given at another time. We here APP
pend the deliverance of the council
on the temperance question. 1t will
be seen that 1t differs somewhat
from the unofficial publication. But
it is an advanced position for the
Roman Catholic Church to take and
will undoubtedly have material in
fluence in the great contest with in
temperance and the liquor traffic
There is no doubt but that among
the evils we especially deplore in
this country, the abuse of intoxi-
eating liquors is to be numbered.
For this excess is the constant
source of sin and the fruitful origin
of misery. Utter ruin has thereby
come upon innumerable individuals
and whole families, and it has
dragged many souls headlong into
eternal destruction. And since this
vice has spread not little, even
among Catholics, scandal is thus
given TO non Catholics, and a great
obstacle is set up against the spread
of religion. Both love OF religion
and of country, therefore, urges all
Christians 10 use every effort to
stamp out this pestiferous evil /.
Following in the foot steps Of the
fathers, the other councils OF Balti-
more, aud supported by the teach
ings of the Angelic Doctor, we ap-
prove and heartily commend the
praiseworthy custom of many who
in our day abstain entirely from the
use of Intoxicating liquors, thus to
overcome more certainly the vice OF
intemperance, either by removing
from themselves the occasions there.
Of or by presenting to others a
splendid example of the virtue of
temperance, whose zeal we willingly
admit is according to knowledge,
and has already brough forth abun
dant fruit, and promises greater in
the future.
We recognize the societies named
the Catholic Union for Promoting
Total Abstinence and the Sacred
Thirst-to be worthy of great praise,
for they are directed by a truly
Catholic spirit, and seek the neces-
sary strength, not so much in the
firmness OF selfwill as in the power
of prayer and of the sacraments
Moreover, it Is known that the head
of the whole church and Christ's
vicar on earth has more than once
enriched them with his apostolic
benediction and with the indul-
gences of the church; wherefore we
also present to them the signs of our
good will, and we commend them to
the paternal care of all our priests,
that they may flourish more and
more; that they may not only add
souls to their ranks, but also show to
them the Catholic path in which
they should walk.
Lastly, We warn our faithful peo-
pie who sell Intoxicating liquors to
consider seriously by how many and
how serious dangers and occasions
of sin their business-although not
unlawful in itself-is surrounded
If they can, let them choose a more
honorable way of making living;
but if they can not, let them study
by all means to remove from them.
selves and others the occasion of sin
Let them not sell drink to the young
that is, to those who are not Of
age nor to those who they foresee
will abuse drink. Let them keep
their saloons closed on Sunday, and
at no time let them allow blssphemy,
cursing, or obscene language within
the walls of their taverns. IT.
through their culpable neglect OF
cooperation religion is brought into
contempt and souls ruined, they
must know that in heaven there il
an Avenger who will exact the Sc
verest punishment from them.
The House Judiciary Committe,