The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-05
oArHoLIos AND rRorEsrAxrs.
me TenohlnE or the Church na to Heretics EH'
pisined By y Priest,

hoAHN " EYN'
To THE EprroR OF THE SuN-Sir. Your
correspondent, r. N. T., complains Of tho incom-
pleteness of my letter on tho Salvation OF
Hcrctics," and quotes certain passages from
Father MHller's Familiar Exposition of Catho-
lie Doctrine" in REPUTATION OF some of the state
ments made by me. My reply TO II. n. It's diff
hcultfos comes, perhaps, n little late, but my
reason for the delay is that / was unable for
some days to lay hands on n copy OF Father
Mnllor's book, It being ono Of those volumes
which Is generally rclegated to tho top shelves
Of ecclesiastical libraries. The fact Is that
Father M0ller's catechism is unreliable, and is
repudiated by all tho best theologlans of tho day.
For this reason, thon, 1 refuse to regard Father
Muller as an exponent OF tho mind of the Cath.
Ollie Church, and your correspondent would do
well to follow my example.
Ten years ago two learned and well.known
members of the Paulist Fathers came into con.
flict with the same Father Muller on the self
same point. Tho controversy went on for some
weeks in the Frceman's journal, and is to be
found in ertcnso in that paper under the dates
Of Sept. IS and 20 and Oct, q, 10. and 81, 1883.
There Is no question as TO who came Off best In
the contest. In the Catholic World for Decem-
Der, 1883, an article from the pen OF Father
Walter Elliot, G. 8. p, on one of Father Null
ler's multifarious works, completely scts the
subject at rest. Father Muller is known as a
writer of great volume. but not as a careful
and exact theologian.
How much better would it not be IL inquirers
would GO to the fountain head of Catholic teach
ing. and consult standard theological works,
than accept the loose statements contained in
Father M0ller's catechism. Let me quote a few
passages from "A Full Catechism Of the Cath
olic Religion" by. q learned Jesuit, Father De
is one Of the standard catochisms of America.
will DO found:
Q.-who is a member of the Catholic Church? A.
Every one who Is baptized. and has neither voiun.
tarily separated himself, nor has been excluded, from
from the Church A.-First. all those who by their
that has been condsmncd by the Church. or who are
t CHRISTIAN fa,th r. at w aiP; mo nnd aon ssao h%yS ali nO th GrSf %sd Any BY
their own fault are schismstics-that is; who have
obedience TO her or to her supreme head. the Pope.
o.Who are excluded from the Catholic church,
ate members. have been expelled from the com
their own fault separated from the Catholic Church?
sincerely search after the truth, and In the meantime
do the VIII Of God to the best OF their knowledge'
however. united to the soul OF the Church and par.
take Of her graces.
hereto by his own fault is: First, he who knows the
her il he would %candidiy srarch. hut through indlner.
Z 9.HDoeS Il become us I" Judge " Whether = this one or
that one is a hereto by his own fault or not? A.
No. for such Judgment belongs to God, who alone is
the "%searcher OF hearts and reins" (Ps., VIII, 100. and
judges the secrets OF men CRom., H.. 1B).
OILS 1t sufficient for obtaining salvation to be a
member OF the Catholic church, A.-No, for there
are also rotten and dead members who. by their
sins, bring upon themselves eternal damnation.
These. sir. and not Father Mnller's narrow
minded ideas, arc what the Church teaches her
children, and It will be apparent to any one
who understands the true spirit of the CATHOLIC
Church that she does not exclude from her fold
those who honestly act in accordance with tho
dictates of conscience and the light which God
has given them. l am. sir. very faithfully
yours, Rev. ALEX. HENDERSON, =. 5. VI.
MOUNT CARMEL CHURCH, EAST 10TH STREET,
Jan. 3.