The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21
THE RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION.
Catholic. and Protestants.

To THE EDITOR OF TIL SuS-Sir: | have
lust read your leading article on the relations
between Protestantism and Cathollclty In one
ri your late issues and nm well pleased with
tstono and with many Of It's arguments. Tho
very Tact that q prominent paper like The Sun
can disc, - such points before the public II a
proof that the two great bodies OF Christians
can come together and interchange the most
vital and delicate thoughts without impairing
tho friendly feel ny existing between them and
", perhaps, the strongest argument Tor the
gradual drawing together OF the different
churches.
But you say that they are as wide apart as
ever. Assuredly the Catholic Church remains
tho same in its essentials and l really DO not
see whers Protestants a. n body are Yielding
to the belief Of Catholics. Tit reputation OF
the Inspiration and truth OF the Scriptures does
not logically impel them toward the authority
OF tho Catholic Church they are TOR Some OF
them undermining their own foundations. but
not for the purpose Of swelling the ranks OF the
Catholic Church. ! cannot, however. agree
with you in the antithssis which you draw be-
tween the two Churches.
II tho Protestant only believes after due eI-
animation what he Processes. and II the Catho-
lie only believes on an authority concerning
which he has by examination also and by the
free and willing acceptation OF his will and In
tellect adopted, there cannot be that radical
difference between them which you would as
sert, judging from your article.
The fact Is that the Catholic method Is very
much adopted In the different departments OF
life; we have all general principles to work
| upon and rely a good deal upon authority
which these principles have contributed 10 es'
tabiish. Even when WI go to the ultimate
reason OF them and examine the act of the
mind in adhering to a primary truth. ws flnd
that the mind accepts II by an act OF faith in
the vcraclty Of tho object itself. or In the trust
| worthiness Of tho minds inerrancy. How
| much does a member of tina Protestant Church
receive on the authority of those in whom he
has confidence In religious matters2 How
| much reliance do We place in the calculations
| OF astronomers In e~yperts' In professional
men? 81. Peter did not know much of the in
ternal doctrines Of the Christian religion when
he turned to our Lord AMI said: Lord. TO
whom shall We go2 Thou hast the words Of
eternal Iiie.' He accepted Christ as an
authority.
But my aim is 10 show that the real difference
between The two religions IL that the frotes-
tant Is SUPPRESSED to- examine each pointfo HIM
self. while the Catholic Xamines the principle.
and, being satisfied nationally Of that, he ad-
1 - " ~ h'N' - 49, N'' '
ciplc; Willingly and nationally accepts an
authority, ana then. as rationally. believes AZ
| that thu authority teaches. There Is n specific
difference between them, but not so rail- cal as
The SuN would have Us think Rome and rea-.
son are not antitheticaI, That vast, portion o.
Church is surely not 10 be- supposed TO have
thrown away its reason All CathojC doctrines
are In harmony with reason. and can he proved
titles which reason a'rurt-; Tut while this Is so.
the Catholic in making an net OF latin, ellinin.
ates everything, tut Goi from the process, ana
Processes to believe solely On the authority OF
God. His supreme motive ia because God has
taught II. Faith Il n gut. and the soul, in he
lieving, adh"rcs 10 the truths OF revelation, not
because they omm"ud themselves to his
reason though they do. Il he likes to examine
them, either IN Themselves or on authority but
because they come from God. and the soul here
Is under the impu 90 OF the Holy Spirit. which.
however, It freely accepts.
So long NJ these truths are in harmony with
reason and ar. brought TO the minis accept
ance by the %mgambula Of faith. namely, rea-
son. II surely cannot cost Il Protestant very
much 70 raise his soul to the supreme source
Of all illumiua alton, and say with the Apostle,
word. OF eternal life." TO rely upon God alone
Just as child would upon its LOVING father;
leaving asid. for the moment every other proof
or argument which seems to break the spell
aud enchantmrnt OF our iilial affection, to be-
lleve simply because He says it IS so, istP our
mind q great act Of worship and not at all In
consistent with the kingly prerogatives OF
reason.
Both tithOllNS ana Irottstdnts use reason,
! and II reason were used properly there would
BE- no difference, since Got, the supreme
reason, cannot teach contradictory things.
They state their respective casea. and while
their conclusions are different. they both start
from the same high primo pie, 40 far as rel'g on
may be considered nationally. The employ
ment Of authority By Cathpl, Is and ~ specific
examination for every point OF belief by
lrOteStants are simply different meth
DDS, but both belonging to the generic
and comprehensive method Of reason,
Who shall iathOm the abyss OF the divine es-
seucey Not even those who are gazing forever
into III deIths will ever come to the last truth.
What GOd has revealed to US is very little, and
even that we CannOtapprrhen 10 all its truths.
But oil OF Us believe in them since they are
cOntHinni in the PAplirit deposit which We have
received, No matter What method we adopt. We
must, in accen' ing the deposit. accept the con-
tents. These contents, as We have seen. are I'M
f~athomable.
Al that the APOSTLES had to do was to believe
In Christ AMI n that He taught or would teach
and yield 20 the impulse of the Holy Ghost In
making this act Of faith. But as the light OF
faith and Of q asOnc comes from God as 70 many
irradiat,ons Of light from the same sun, relig-
iOus truth must be IN harmony with reason,
and. IA We have seen. can be proved by rational
demonstr1tlOn.
Christ loved the whole world whether they
believed in Him or not. and while many resist
His grhrps He ceases not to love them. Let us
initiate Christ in His love for those who do not
believe as We 10; We have then a right to plead
for the unity Of dogma'ic faith. d.
NEW YORK. Jan. II, 8