The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-11-28
CAUSE OF THE REFORMATION.

Editor Intermountain Catholic: Will you please
explain the cause of the Reformation in the sixteenth
century I have heard the matter discussed. and the
admission made that a reformation was needed.
Where abuses exist it is only natural that there
should be revolt. Social reforms attained only
through the protest of the people who suffer, and
tyranny can be conquered only by resisting tryants
Salt Lake. Nov o. 1908. INQUIRER
Replying to our esteemed correspondent, we
would state that various causes are assigned for
the Reformation. Princes and rulers were ar
raigned against the Church. Laxity in morals and
in the enforcement of discipline prevailed. In
trigues the result of jealousy between nominal
Catholics and unworthy churchmen, existed every
where. Abuses of canonical law were freely in
dulged in, all of which merely touch the human
side of the Church and show the necessity of
reformation at the time specified But a reforma
ton, to be effective must come from within, not
from without i. c. it must not affect the unity Of
the duly authorized body that is commissioned to
teach and govern "To err is human" but in
forming errors in Church or State, unity must be
preserved. Hence the efforts and sacrifices made
by our country to preserve its national unity when
the Southern states strove to secede from the
Union. Why? Because they who would break up
our national unity, would disrupt the nation it
self. Anarchists claiming their motives to be to
redress supposed or imaginary evils, would sub
vert the authority of the country, and war on law
and order All evils, be they real or imaginary.
must be remedied by the ruling powers, who are
responsible to the people, but by striving to
break loose from the nation. The life and integ-
rity of nation, we are told by statesmen, rest
on national unity. The same rule applies to the
Reformation in the sixteenth century. Without
the motives of Martin Luther and his
followers in striving to correct evils which af-
fected the human side of the Curch, and which
needed to be reformed their error lay in the means
which they adopted, namely, in breaking away from
Catholic unity and opposing the divine authority
of the Catholic church In all human matters
which pertain to discipline and canon law, reforms
are needed from time to time, and the Church in
her general councils has made changes to suit the
exigencies of the times. But in matters of faith,
which are catholic and divine, both in space and
time there could be no change, or need of a refor
nation. To think otherwise would be to impugn
the veracity of Cod who is truth itself In judg
ing the Church the world fails to distinguish be-
tween the constitution of the Church, and her
members. The two elements are as distinct as the
constitution of the United States, and the people.
The Church, as divinely constituted by Jesus
Christ, could be no more responsible for the vio-
lation of the divine law than the constitution of
the United States would be responsible for the least
infraction of its laws by its citizens or malfeas
ance of its officials who may be placed in offices of
trust. The Catholic church not only countenances
but encourages reformation, whenever or wherever
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civil matters be under her direction and guidance
But to go outside of the Church, as the reform
ers did, and attempt what they deemed neces-
sary reformation, is what anarchy aims at, and
what the secessionists attempted when they with
drew their allegiance to the government at Wash
ngton. During this month we were informed by
the Associated Press that certain reformer in
truded herself at the White House to demand GER
tain reforms, and was so persistent In her de-
mands that it required the strong arm of the law
to eject her from the executive mansion. Her per-
sistence in demanding, though not wrong in it
self, yet when pressed in defiance of the governing
became illegal. The human side of the
Church. which rests on frail nature, does not claim
in governing. The reformers in their
zeal to correct abuses became inpatient and
through pride and self-will strove to destroy the
unity of the Church by assailing the faith which
belongs to the divine element and in declaring
which the Church is authoritative and infallibe.
The Church, commissioned by Christ to teach,
cannot err; in her governing capacity like all civil
governments, she may err But even in her gov
srning capacity her laws, like those of civil gov
if not suitable to the times should be
observed and obeyed till repealed Had the reform
srs of the sixteenth century little patience and
waited till the convening of the Council of Trent
hey would have secured all they desired through
he reformatory action of the Church herself As
t was they broke loose from Catholic unity, sew
sred their connection from the vine, and, like
branches severed from the trunk lost their vital
ty, having nothing positive to teach except what
hey still retain of the old faith
At this writing Bishop Abel Leonard of the
Episcopal diocese of Utah, is at deaths door. A
cor,