The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-30

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: As a
graduate OF one Of the two Catholic colleges
named Mount st, Mary'sl permit me to reply
to the letter signed " A Catholic Reader" AS a
graduate Of n Catholic college he has a very
peculiar notion. so far as my SIX years ex-
perience extends. of the spirit animating these
institutions.
He says that "the Catholic student is accus-
toned to he satisfied with what the Church
teaches. feeling perfectly sure the supporting
reasons are good. and not interested in their
cogency unless he is ambitious to enter the
priesthood" AS n matter OF fact. no man can
be graduated from n Catholic college without
mastering not only the supporting reasons"
OF his belief. whether religious. philosophic or
scientific. but he must also view and meet
every objection urged from any quarter against
the positions taken. Only within the COM
paratively limited range OF doctrine matters Of
Catholic faith and moralsl is he satisfied with
whattho Church teaches. and as to these points
he must be able to give a reason for the faith
that is in him " or he cannot get his degree.
The letter comedies to Catholic students IAN
ligious principles. y SO that he cannot logically
find fault. with their satisfaction and content
therein. In the literary and scientific field the
Catholic student has q range OF Investigation
and acceptance OF results equal to any other
student. He may give every man his ear"
spirit OF true science. he reserves his judg-
ment - until the facts are in evidence. and II he
desires to search arch for for himself 6nPs $ fn his Gatho o1 col col
As for the Declaration Of Independence
being = better understood in universities with
standards Of patriotism between Catholics and
non;Catholics. There is but one national flag
Catholic college in the United States. the Dag
of the stars and Stripes. The records Of
every war in which the country has engaged
names upon the Declaration itself proves it.
aud a more than due proportion Of Catholics
the recent war against a so-called Catholic
power brings the living evidence up to date.
NEW YORK, Jan. -. JOHN j. ROONEY
To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: Every
graduate OF Georgetown University. or of any
other Jesuit university. knows that the Catho-
lie student at such an institution is taught to
reason for himself, else why does he spend 20
much time and labor on the study OF mathe-
MATES. logic. and philosophy?
In these institutions they do not have to
study merely the history OF philosophy. and be
able to tell who SpinoZa. Tongiorgi. st. Thomas
and others were, and what they wrote. but also
to learn what opinions these men held. What
ever his philosophical doctrines are. the student
must be able to prove them and to rerute all
objections brought against them. the purpose
being to tench the student not only TO reason.
but to reason in nm orderly way. The student
may hold any philosophical doctrine. even
though i he ALPHABETICALLY opposed to that Of
ihs 4 pr@isssGfn'll y d lee Saa h rstq thes 81 o9E 5nr ions
respondent, Catholic Reader" can never have
studied Catholic philosophy as It is taught by
the Jcsuits.
The average Catholic student is continually
asking about matters which he does not un-
the answers are clear and we'll proved he
will believe nothing concerning his religion.
except, of course. revealed truths. without
1Ilnpf RN awning that thn l'nthnIin Gnlnlnr Ia
easily satisfied concerning the truths Of his
religion. your correspondent brands such ms
merely lazy or Indifferent mon. but this should
he set down to the individual. not to Catholic
colleges, | venture to say that the, "Cath9lic
lin his srnscl with the teachings OF the
Church - who has graduated at Georgetown or
Mount ~. Mays from the school OF arts.
A CATHOLIC STUDENT
New YORK. Jan. %.