The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-07
WHY HE. BECAME A CATHOLIC
DIR. DE COSTA, A RECENT CON.
VERT, MAKES EXPLANATION.
Church Of Rome Stands Before Peo-
pie as Solitary Defender of Bible
In It's Integrity and Entirety.
New York, Dec. 6UThe. Rev. Benja-

New York, Dec. &TrThe. Rev. Benja-
min F. De Costa. 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 rea-
sons for the step he has taken.
In beginning. DR.. Costa thanks God
deep prejudice implanted by false edu-
cation" 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
upon me a reconsideration of princi-
pies. the result being the conviction
that the reformation was not based
upon any true foundations"
DR.. De Costa then alludes to 'the
passing of studious angiicans over to
the Catholic church.
THE current" he says, sis as steady
as the flow of the gulf stream" and
he refers to Cardinal Newman and 9TH
ers who have forsook Professionalism
however. if the gifted author of Lead.
Kindly Light" had never spoken, and
if Manning, Faber and Wilberforce had
never lived. my mode of thinking must
infallibly have led me to accept the
faith.
II do not however," says DIR. De
Costa, propose to offer an apology for
entering the Catholic church. Stand
ing in the midst of modern religious
systems topping TO their fall like col
umns in the temple of Karnacs no de-
Tense need be offered for accepting a
firm and mistaken Catholic faith
DIR. De Costa then goes on to speak
OF the position of the Scriptures in the
teaching system of the Catholic church.
ID
stands before English-speaking people
and Protestants anywhere as the
unique and solitary defender of the
Bible in its integrity and entirety.
THE church." proceeds DR.. De Costa.
never changed her method of dealing
with science. In this city scholar
should not allow his mind to become
befogged. The issue is not simply one
of science or simple Interpretation
Primarily, it is the mystery of the in
carnation that criticism puts on trial.
The case is dogmatic. II means re-
vision Of the Bible. This the holy
Catholic church will never approve
Dr. De Costa denies. however. that
the authorities the Catholic church
are unfavorable to the circulation and
use of the Bible. saying that ii 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. DIR. De Costa
says, TT is time for candid non-Catho-
lies to learn that the notion that it
Gnfanibility) interfered with individual
liberty is as true as that a nnariner's
compass renders the sailor an abject
slave"
In conclusion DR. De Costa says:
ION the Protestant theory is no visible
church, the only body being q mys-
teal body in the air. On this theory
Christianity has failed: the empire that
triumphed over the Roman empire has
pe.ished This is simply pessimism.
Reformation relieionisni, therefore. Of
fers no moral or intellectual outlook
for coming generations. offers no moral
or intellectual outlook for coming gen.
erations. and leaves the world forced
at last TO choose between rationalism
and the Catholic church l believe in
the holy Catholic church and the life
everlasting"