Richmond planet., 1894-04-28


2.38-S:17, and yet he said OF himself
Il am sinful man."
Gods ministers should of course try
to live free from all sin so as TO repre-
sent their divine master becomingly. II
thew do not they become guilty. of great
irreverence and sin, but their official acts
as abeolvipg from sin ETC., cannot be IN
validated. In the same way the official
acts of a u. s., minister are not void be-
cause in his private life hemay do wrong
things.
While this is so letme say that our
priests are not quite SO bad as our enc
mics would make them out. While it is
unfortunately true that q few OF our
priests have initiated the example OF Ju-
das and Nicolas, it is no less true that
their number is exceedingly small CON-
pared to those thousands upon thous
ands who have led noble lives for God
and their neighbors. What protestant
denomination can show men like st,
Francis, st. Francis Hevier, st. Francis
de Sales, St. Peter Claver, the Apostle
OF the colored race. Father Damien
and a host Of others Why eiFays'
look at the one black Goeep X ffef -
camo bad, was Il because they Nera'
ed that vsfxs, nor for bad priests there
would beno protestants, but only eone
fold and one shepherd"
6. But what about sins that are-fcr-
gotten ? Can the priest give abso olution
for sins that ere not confessed II the
peniteut without his fault forgets to con-
Tess one OF more sins, they will be forgiv-
en-, with the rest. One sin cannot be
forgiven, without forgiving all, at least
grievous sins.
z. What about the effects of priestly
absolution2 ? / will only say that it
would be a terrible calamity ifconfession
would be no longer required. How
many sinners on the verge of despair
have found that true peace of heart by a
sincere confession How often hak inno-
cence been preserved by the timely use of
| this wonderful institution ! How often
| have peace and harmony been restored
| amongst friends and families How
| many crimes and c; cret sins have been
prevented by its use How often have
| illgotten goods, an injured reputation
been restored by means OF confession. II
| protestants have Otter. .such bad opin-
| ion about priests and religions, ii is be-
cause they know no such thing as puri-
| ty. Had they confession, how things
| would change The thought 81 must
confess this SIM has often deferred peo'
| pie from committing it.
Thus then il has been clearly proved
that Christ gave TO his Apostles-and
necessarily also to their successors-tht
power to forgive repenting sinners
Reader what do you think about
this All this is true, you say, but be
iieve in conversion, in change OF heart
and the new birth. Well, so do we. /
there is no true change of mind and sor
row of heart when the priest says, :.
absolve thee from thy SINS" his word
will have no effect.
Before draw to a close the vindica
, ton OF this consoling catholic doctrine
| cannot help commenting once NOR
| on the mean way in which my oppo
nent handled this subject
} Every argument and text brough
. was simply ignored. He knew of cours
! that he had no proofs for his denial
but not willing to acknowledge th
: truth, he tried to make up for IL
| throwing dirt. He maintained
, | Catholics were discouraged frc
ing the Bible. proved that It
I falsehood; vet he would not Civ
3 maxim of the Catboli .
: said, Ignorance is the mother OF uevt
= tion and order" i asked him iou
! times at least to show us where thH
n statement could be found. Not on
word did he ever answer.
e-A1A1~A -
q | that Catholics paw for absoiutioI
d | When he made this charge determine
to make him prove it. Reader did
!, do it 2 had no intention to leave th
y question, who can forgive sin, alon
- but during the discussion learned the
~ ifI took more than one point, he woul
! g only beat around the bush. Says he
!, ''the question is not, who paid for abs
% luton" Well, if it was not why did
. make that statement? And when
= made that charge, had l not the rigl
- - to ask him to prove it /? Yes, it was
&c such lying statements that all his wri
ing was made up
Shall again recall to your mind no
&c he actually forged the scriptures al
w | added to it in spite of the severe threl
~ God has uttered against those who {
:, so? Must l remind you again he
:. | blasphemously he spoke of the gre
~ Apostle as daddy" Peter
of 1t was said that we are afraid
- submit our doctrines to the scrutiny
O. the public. And get when We invite pc
in pie to come and hear Us, to read o
ht books, the ministers do all they can
. keep them from doing so. When sol
m years ago Bishop Keane preached esp
r'' tally to the colored people Sunday aft
'se Sunday, the ministers were filed wi
40 rage.
to 1t was the old story of Diana and I
ok silversmiths. What did they do ? T
IT'S white ministers went to the color
av | churches to warn the people again
In those ignorant wicked Catholics. One
yer the ministers went even further. Said
! if to them 'If you keep going there y
n' will all believe him (the Bishop y
'rd can't help it. Did you not see
- charm he weara around his neok wi