The San Francisco call., 1896-01-17


he, like Faust, consent 10 barter his soul for
anything this world can give3 Hence, is not
the organization, or the belief, or the way in
which he keeps his soul IN touch with eternity
more valuable 10 him than anything that
exists? Is it not the greatest thing In
the word?" Is it not superior 10 All
temporal concerns? Does he then conclude
that he is the ruler OF all? And If Bishop Gill
mour said that the church is superior 10 the
state in the sense that the soul is superior 10
the body, is 1t logical, Is II lair to offer this as
q proof that Catholics believe in theocracy?
What control has the soul over the BODY be-
yond the control of reason? And every time
Dr.. Wendte makes q speech does he not strive
TO control the state by reason?
Surely 1t must be very hard to find evidence
against the church when her opponents are re-
duced TO such straits as this. Let me now
quote from few Catholic theologiaus who
are recognized as authorities. They viii de-
clare in plain unequivoeal language what is
the doctrine of the church.
CATHOLIC DOCTRINE.
DR.. Wendte says: '"The Pope is the sovereign
of the world and all civil governments must
submit TO his dictation."
Suarez, the great Jesuit theologian OF the
sixteenth century, whose works James I OF
England had burned by the common hang
man because he refuted the doctrine OF the
divine right of kings 10 govern wrong" says
in his monumental treatise ''0n Law (book
III, chapter Vi, No. 81: "The supreme pontiff
has 10 direct temporal power over the world
except in these provinces of which he is tenn
poral lord" namely, the city of Rome and the
adjoining districts, of which he was king until
1870.
Cardinal Tarquini writes in his institutions
though every member of 1T be Catholic, is not
subject TO the church, but plainly independent
IN temporal things which regard its temporal
end Page 30.
The following extracts are taken from the
evidence given by DR.. Doyle, the Catholic
Bishop OF Kildare, before a committee OF the
British House OF Commons. The members of
that committee were all ProtesIants, and they
asked the same questions which evidently DR..
Nendte would ask to-day. Let us hope that
the answers will he equally satisfactory:
ON what and how far does the Roman Catho-
lie profess to obey the Pope?
A.-The Catholic processes to obey the Pope In
those matters of ecclesiastical discipline which
| have already been defined by the competent au-
thorities.
Q.-Does this obedience detract from what is due
by the Catholic TO the state?
A.-Not in the -lightest degree; on the contrary,
as the laws Of God. which The Pope does enforce
among Catholics. ordain that should pay obed-
fence TO the existing Government OF the country
where we well, so the obedience we owe the Pope
only tends 10 confrm US IN our allegiance 10 such
Government.
Q.-Does that Justify the objection that Is made
to Catholics that their allegiance is divided?
Al do not think it does in any WAY: we are
bound 10 obey the Pope in those things that have
already mentioned, but our obedience to the law
and the allegiance which we owe the reign are
complete and full and perfect and undivided mas
rights OF the King his subjects. IL think the allie
glance Que TO tne;ikng and that due TO the Pope
Z a
any two things can possibly be.
Q.-ls the claim thai some Popes have set up to
temporal authority opposed scripture and tradi-
ton?
Ain my opinion 1t is opposed 10 both.
Such, then, are the opinions OF men who
knew the Catholic faith through and through.
But Dr. WendIe may ask how do | consider il
with the quotations given by Mr.. Hittell.
These quotations I have already demonstrated
/ TO be suspicious. To show exactly what they
are will take whole letter, which I propose 10
. write Tomorrow Therefore the only rrCo oro-
naming quotations which deal with civil
! allegiance are those from Bishop .Gilmour and
/ Cardinal Newman.
ANOTHER GARBLED QUOTATION.
DR.. Wendte writes:
Some years ago Bishop Gilmour OF Cleveland
laid down in pastoral letter 10 his diocese the
Catholic philosophy OF government in the follow
! ing words: "Nationaltles must be made subor-
dinate TO religion. We must learn that we are
Catholics first and citizens next. Catholicism
! teaches that God is above man, the church is
above the state" This is Certainly expIicit and
! emphatic enough.
| l wish in the beginning to draw Dr. Wendte
attention TO the unscholarly nature of such an
argument as this. He quotes a pastoral writ
| ten ''some years ago" but he does not give us
| the faintest intimation OF what the pastoral
was about or where it may be found. A pas
| torsl Is usually lengthy document, vet n hall
! dozen words are scissored out OF il 10 make an
| argument against Catholics.
Now nave not been able 10 find the pastoral,
! but think know what it was about 1t was
written al time when the question of nation
| auty was causing some disturbance in Ohio.
| Catholics OF German extraction wished to have
| priests and bishops of their own race, or at
! least, some busybodies wanted 10 make out
| that they did. Indeed, there was q time when
| certain people claimed that a movement was
! under way TO divide the Catholic body along
/ the lines OF nationality, so that, for instance
in san Francisco there would be one Catholic
| Archbishop for the Germans, another for the
Poles, another for the Italians, another for the
Irish and another for native American
/ citizens.
! This system is very popular among Protest
| ants, who have Swedish Methodists German
! Lutherans English Lutherans Northern Bap-
| fists, Southern Presbyterians and so on
| Against this scheme Bishop Gilmour protested
was dour and hard TO the last. He never
minced matter, and when the plan was
| broached in Cleveland he charged" against
| ii. Nationalities must be made subordinate to
| religion. We must learn that we are Catholics
! first and citizens afterward. Catholicism
/ teaches that God is above man and the church
| above the state" That is, the petty jealousies
| OF nationalities and citizenship should not be
| allowed 10 divide the church which God estab-
lished for the salvation OF all.
This is the true sense OF Bishop Gilmour's
words, and I say now that if they were in
! tended 10 mean what DR.. Wendte makes them
mean, namely, evil supremacy Of The church
| over the state, Bishop Gilmour was not ex-
pressing Catholic doctrine. Is this clear
| enough, DR.. Wendte?
FALsIFYING NEwMAN's WORDS
The second quotation is from Cardinal New
man. DR.. Wendte writes:
So Cardinal Newman, IN mis- famous controversy
with Mr.. Gladstone, maintained that the British
Ministers should have gone to Rome TO ascertain
! the civil Guties OF British Catholic su biect and
that mo pledge from Catholics of any value TO
! which Rome was not party" Apply this prin-
| ciple TO our American political life and 1t means
| simply this: That no Roman Catholic citizen can
rightly take oath of allegiance without the con-
sent of Rome, or. in other words, that Rome is a
higher authority in American affairs than the Re
| public itself.
| If DR.. Wendte has ever read Cardinal New.
| mans work cannot acquit him OF dishonesty.
| There is not word in the context which bears
| out the assertion that the British Ministers
| should bave gone TO Rome to ascertain the
| civil duties OF a British Catholic subject -
| Newman is drawing attention TO the ridicu.
| lous policy of the English Government, accord.
! ing TO which, although it has civil and
political dealings with Catholics in countries
| where Catholicism is the established religion
still II Will not deal directly with the Pope. Ii
! prefers to negotiate with unauthorized persons
| on matters not of Catholic teaching but OF
| civil policy, and then il complains If Rome
does not back up everything these unauthor
! lied persons did or promised. Here is what
| Newman says:
| l recollect, years ago. DR.. Griffiths, Vicar Apos
tolc OF the London district, giving an account
OF an interview he had with the late Lord Derby
then, suppose, Colonial Secretary. l understood
him TO say that Lord Derby in perplexity al
the time on some West India matter, in which
| Catholics were concerned, because he could moi
find their responsible representative. He wanted