The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-02

LDlS must be added the Oeep-rOOteQ aversion
which my adversary displays toward members
ofnon-Catholic communions.
l call attention to the fact that while in this
discussion have said many appreciative and
kind things concerning the Catholic church
and my Catholic neighbors, Father Yorke,
with a singular lack of generosity, has not
uttered a word OF sympathy'or goodwill for
friendliness the very existence of his church is
owing to-day.
If Father Yorke is simply writing his letters
TO produce an effect on his Catholic con-
stitueney their bellgerent tone is less difficult
to understand. But L thought he had under
taken to conduct this discussion on higher
plane to arrive at the truth and show US
Protestants the superior reason of his side of
the question. If this was his purpose he has
prevented its attainment by his mistaken
methods.
THE ISSUE REsTATED.
In this series of papers / have discussed
chiefly the question of st. Peters primacy at
Rome aud the American Protestant, as con-
trasted with the Roman Catholic, theory of the
relation which church and state ought TO bear
toward each'o other in this Republic.
On the first of these topics / maintained:
First-Peter was never invested by Jesus
Christ with any extraordinary authority or
spiritual supremacy above the other disciples.
Second-Eyen If he had been so invested there
is nothing TO show that this authority was or
could be transferred to succeeding generations
OF disciples This transfer is purely an as
sumption on the part of the Roman Catholic
church and without foundation in fact or rea-
son. Third-Peter was never Bishop in Rome.
Fourth-Peter never abode in Rome for any
such term as is claimed for him in the official
declarations of the Roman Catholic church.
This would have been physical and ehrono-
logical 1mpossibility. Fifth-Peter WAS, in all
probability, never in Rome at all. He may
have visited it for brief stay. after Paups
death, but there is no real evidence for il ex-
eept the general tradition a hundred years
later; while, as we have seen; there is consid-
cradle testimony of q negative character
against the superstition.
Ny opponent has sought to weaken or over
throw these assertions. An impartial reading
of this discussion and of the authorities cited
will, believe, show that his interpretations
of Scripture are forced and against the plain
sense of the Gospel and that the arguments he
bases upon them are misleading Let an in
telligent public judge for itself. Ny opponent
evidently lays more stress on ancient legend
and tradition than modern historical criticism
and unbiased conscience will allow. He
seems, indeed, TO have an inkling of the weak
ness of his claim to Scriptural and historical
attesta1on, for he tells us that he himself finds
@ stronger warrant for the divine right of his
church in the fact that the Papaey still exists
to-day in all its splendors and powers. God,
he concludes, has thus given witness to its
supreme and eternal right to rule over mems
souls
But this is very fallacious argument. BY
parity OF reasoning, the absolute personal rule
OF the Car of Russia might be held to be
d1yinely Instituted, and TO be perpetual, be-
cause it exists in the plenitude of its powers
to-day. But the Nihilists have blown some
large hotes in that claim. Every sane politi-
cal thinker feels assured that the overthrow of
the autocracy and introduction of constitu-
uonal guarantees in Russia is not far away.
Even so the Papacy has been deprived of two
thirds of its former prestige and power, and
the day is not far distant when it will be over
thrown or transformed, and the Catholic cit-
zenS of this country will refuse TO be yasssls
even in a spiritual sense, to a Roman or any
foreign potentate whatever. History has
already judged the Papacy, and shown it to be
8 human and fallible, not q divine and infal-
lible, institution.
CHURCH AND STATE
AS regards the second topic of discussion. I
claimed that the Roman Catholic theory OF
church and state was that OF theocracy, or the
supremacy of the church and the subordina-
ton OF the state. / sought to prove this
by citing the testimony of popes councils
scholars and prelates, and the general courses
through the centuries down to this very day.
Father Yorke has denied the validity of GER
tain OF these witnesses, especially those drawn
from Hittell; he has succeeded in impairingor
destroying the relevancy OF a few of them, but
none that are essential TO my argument
The great historic proofs furnished by Popes
Gregory VII, Innocent III, Bonifsce VIII and
Plus TX, and the utterances OF eminent Cath
Ollie theologians and teachers remain, monu-
mental testimonies to the truth of my asser-
tons. But. as factions speak louder than
words, so the dolngs OF the Roman Catholic
clergy, their constant interference in the poll
tics OF nations, their attitude of hostility TO
civil governments, to-day as well as in olden
time las witness France, Italy, Belgium, Aus
trla, Prussia, Bavaria, Mexico and the South
American States, all irrefutably prove the cor
reetness OF my definition Even Switzerland,
the reest country under the sun, and the best
governed, has had TO eXpel the Jesuits for
th cir political intrigues. In the United States
the hopeless minority OF the Roman Catholic
elements among US prevents any large inter-
terence OF the clergy OF that communion in
our political life. But the massing OF Roman
Catholics In large cities and their clannish
political courses are constant sources OF dis
cord. The Roman Catholic church is an influ-
enee OF Importance which politicians have to
reckon IN every city election. If the Roman
Catholic church were more powerful in this
country, 1t would unquestionably seek to con-
troll and largely TO destroy our existing instf-
buttons. striking instance of the truth of
TINS assertion is furnished by the Concordat
winch Rome made comparatively recently lin
1869, with the republic of Ecuador. l will
cite and summarize a few OF the articles of this
now famous compact through which Ecuador
has remained vassal of Rome, and Protes-
tants are forbidden to worship in public in
that country.
Article I. The Catholic religion is the relig-
ion OF the State. No other worship is to be per
mitted in the republic.
Art, III. Every book prohibited by bishop
is TO be confiscated by the republic.
Art. VI. The Government is to lend the
Bishop strong hand in the suppression of
any who may try to lead aStray the true be-
never u. e. Protestants. c. w. W..
Art. VIII. An ecclesiastic can only be held
responsible before an ecclesiastical tribunal,
even in cases OF misdemean0r which fall under
the common law.
Art. TX. The Holy Father permits ecclesias
tics TO pay taxes, but in case they do not they
can only be persuaded to it by the church
authorities.
Art. X. Every church and every convent
shall be empowered to offer asylum and no
criminal shall be sieZed therein without the
express consent of the ecclesiastical authori-
ties.
These citations show convincingly what is
the Ideal conception and true doctrine of the
Roman Catholic church on this subject They
render preposterous the claim of Father Yorke
that his church is most favorable to republics
while Professionalism is most in harmony with
monarchies. Montesquieu in his epoch-mak-
ing book, "The Spirit of the Laws" did not
think so, for chapter Y of book XIV is headed.
THAT the Catholic religion is most agreeable
10 monarchy, and the Protestant to repub-
hc." The whole organization of the Roman
Catholic church, with its ranks and dignities
and supreme power lodged in the Pope. is dis
tlnctly monarchical in form. The F-olestant
churches are with few exceptions as distinctly
democratic In principle and constitution 1t
Is matter OF common history that the New
England commonwealth which inspired the
later republic were modelled after the Congre-
gatlonal system OF church government, which
has been copied from the free, simple forms of
the earliest Christian churches, which in turn
has been derived from the Jewish synagogue.
CATHOLIC AscENDENCY.
Will the Catholic church ever gain the as
tendency in this country? l do not believe it
although they themselves do. A polished and
cultivated gen tleman, at one time an infiuap-