Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-25

workings of which have been described in
the religious and secular press, published
the following letter in the daily papers Of
st. Paul and Minneapolis. since which
time 1t has been widely copied:
In view of the fact that there has been
so much discussion locally Of late about
doctrinal differences between Catholics and
Protestants, We ask the privilege OF emu
merating some things Catholics do not
believe.
Il. They do not believe that there is
any other mediator of redemption than
Jesus Christ. For there is no other name
given to man whereby he must be saved
When they call the mother Of God, or any
saint. q mediator, IL is not in the sense of
mediator Of redemption attributed to our
Saviour, but In the sense Of iutercessor or
pleader between God and his fellowmen
As Abraham, Moses and st. Paul praying
to God for the people.
Cathollcs do not believe that the
Virgin Mary is In any way equal or even
comparable TO God. for. being only a
creature. although most highly favored
she Is infinitely less than God who created
her. Nor do they claim for her any power
beyond that which she derives from God /;
for she is entirely dependent on God for
"
-. Catholics do not believe that there
Is any power on this earth or in heaven
that can give permission to commit the
least sin; or that . sin can be forgiven for
money; or an indulgence granted for the
commission Of sin. either past, present or
future, or that priest, bishop, cardinal
or pope can give valid sbsolution TO sin
ner who does not truly repent by sincere
sorrow, Ar truly resolve to abandon sin
Tor all tim to come, and amend his life
and make reparation to God and his neigh
Dor for the otiense committed.
-. Catholics do not believe that any
man can obtain salvation by his own good
deeds, Independently Of the merits and
passion of Jesus Christ and His grace, or
that he can make any satisfaction for the
guilt of his sins, or acquire any merits
except through the Saviour.
''5. Catholics do not believe that 1t Is al
lowable to break lawful oath or tell lie
even for the conversion of kingdom, or
10 do anything whatever of sinful na-
ture to promote the supposed interests Of
their church. The false and perncious
principle that the end justifies the means
or that one may do evil that good NAV
come, is utterly condemned by the Catho-
lie church
estants who are baptized, who lead good
life. love God aud their neighbor, who
avoid evil and do good, who are blame
less!y ignorant of Catholic truth and of
the just claims of the Catholic church to
be the only trne religion, are excluded
from heaven, provided they believe there
is one God in three divine persons (or
unity in trinity aud trinity 10 unity that
ha ha
bad hereafter; that Jesus Is the Son of
God, made man. who redeemed US, and in
whom we must trust for our salvation,
and provided they thoroughly repent Of
having ever by their sins offended God.
-. Catholics hold that Protestants who
have these dispositions, and who have no
suspicion of their religion being false, and
no means of discovering, or fail In honest
endeayors to discover the true religion,
and who are so disposed in their hearts
that they would, at any cost, embrace the
Roman Catholic religion If they knew 1t 10
be the true one are Catholics in spirit and
In some sense within the Catholic church,
without themselves knowing 1t. These
christians belong and are united to the
soul, as II is called, of the Catholic
church, although they are not united to
the visible body of the church by external
communion with her, and by the outward
profession of her faith. Many Proteslants
from early education and false teaching
about Catholics were righteously indignant
at Catholics belief, but on ascertaining
the truth from Catholic sources became
members Of the much maligned church.
Among such men may be reckoned Cardi-
of thirty seven preached tlRtthe ibf, ,sge
anti Christ, and Earl Spencer afterwards
Father IgnaGus), who attacked the Catho-
lie church so vigorously when he was
clergyman of the English church that his
own father impIored him to speak less
violently of Catholics and exercise re-
ligious liberation.
8. Catholics do not believe that 1t il
in the power of their church to add TO the
truths contained in the deposit of faith !"
that is to frame or enforce any doctrine
which has not for It's source the written
or unwrtten word of God. or authority
from the same. Nor do they believe, when
the church makes a definition in matters
of faith, as for instance the Immaculate
Conception of Mary, or the Infallibility of
the Pope in matters of faith and morals
1t is a new doctrine; it being only a solemn
declaration and a clearer statement of
what was believed, at least implicitly (that
Is, in an implied way, or inferentially) in
the time of the Apostles. though some
private person might have doubted it.
Catholics do not believe manv other
things not here enumerated, and on exami
nation Of the Catholic doctrine as taught
and promulgated by the church, many
thing. which appear strange to non Catho-
lies can be readily ascertained to be found
ed on revealed religion, human reason aud
common sense"