The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-07
DE COSTA EXPLAINS.
Tells Why He Went Over to Catholic
Church.

New York, Dec. Rev. DR.. Benja-
min F. DeCOsta. whose reception into
the Roman Catholic church took place
on Sunday last. has written an article
which is to be published in Catholic
papers in which he explains his reasons
for the step he has taken.
In beginning Dr.. DeCOsta thanks God
for giving him grace to overcome the
deep prejudice implanted in him by
false education and declares that his
change of belief is not the work of a
day or a year, but began very long ago.
The sad, fallen estate of post refOr-
nation belief he adds, has forced up
on me a reconsideration of principles,
the result being the conviction that the
reformation was not based upon any
true foundations"
DrDeCosta then alludes to''the pass
ing of studious AngHcans over to the
Catholic church"
1.-THE current" he says, sis as steady
as the flow of the gulf stream and he
refers to Cardinal Newman and others
who have forsaken Professionalism for
the church of Rome. He declares how
ever, 'if the gifted author of Lead,
Kindly Light had never spoken, and if
Manning, Faber and WiIberforce had
never lived, my mode of thinking must
infallibly have led me to accept the
faith.
Il do not, however" says DR.. De
Costa, propose to offer any apology for
entering the Catholic church. Standing
IN the midst Of modern religious SyS-
TENS topping to their fall like columns
in the temple of Karnac, no defense
need be offered for accepting firm
and unshaken Catholic faith
DR.. DeCOsta then goes on to speak of
the position of the scriptures in the
teaching system of the Catholic church
He declares that ''the church of Rome
stands before English speaking people
and PrOtestants everywhere as the un-
ique and solitary defender of the Bible
in its integrity and entirety"
THE church" proceeds DR.. De Costa,
me nj
with science. In this connection a
scholar should not allow his mind to
become befogged. The issue is not
simply one of science of simple inter-
probation. Primarily it is the mys-
terry of the incarnation that criticism
put on trial The case is dOgmatic. It
means a revision of the Bible. This the
holy CatholIc church will never ap-
prove"
Dr. De Costa denied however, that
the authorities of the Catholic church
are unfavorabIe to the circulation and
use of the Bible, saying that it is the
duty and privilege of Catholic scholars
to study the Bible thoroughly in the
original tongues.
Proceeding to speak of the question
of papal infallibility, DR.. DeCOsta says:
1T is time for cadid nOn-CathOlic5
bility) interfered with individual iber-
ty is as true as mariners compass rem
ders the sailor an abject slave"
In conclusion DR.. De Costa says:
"On the Protestant theory there is no
visible church. the only body being
mystical body in the air On this the
Ory Christianity has failed; the empire
that triumphed over the Roman empire
has perished. This is simply pessimism
resumed. Reformation. religionist,
therefore offers no moral or intellectual
outlook for coming generations, and
leaves the world forced at last to
choose between rationalism and the
Catholic church. 1 believe in the holy
Catholic church and the life everlast-
ing"