The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-02-18
AN OLD ACCUSATION.

lNeW York Freeman's Journal)
History repeats itself This is trite
saying, but true one: and one which
is always receiving new confirmation
AS historical research progresses The
reason of its truth is to be found large
~ in human nature. which does not
change; so that under like conditions in
any age we may expect the same phe-
nomena OF human conduct. A remark
able instance of the verifcation of this
Old saying is TO be found in the attitude
OF the unbelievil 9 word toward the
church of God at various epochs of his
tory In this matter the history of the
hrst ages OF the church repeats itself in
our own time in striking fashion. Who
does not remember that wonderful an
peal OF Cardin9 cwman, in his essay
on DeVelopm d., which he draws,
WIN master touch comparison be-
tween the ATTITUDE II the world to the
church in the liisl enturies and the at
titude OF the SAM unbelieving, nom
Catholic world toward the church of
today? Applying his first test of
legitimate doctrinal development, he
writes:
II there is form of Christianity
now in the world which is accused of
gross superstition, of borrowing its
rites and customs from the heather.
and of ascribing TO forms of ceremonies
on occult Nirtue-a religion which is
considered t. burden and enslave the
mind by its acquisitions. to address it
self to the weak-minded and ignorant
to be supported by sophistry and i'm
posture, and 10 contradict reason and
eXalt mere irrational faith a re-
ilsion such, that men look at a convert
TO il with a feeling which no other sect
raises except Judaism, socialism or
Momonism. with curiosity, suspicion,
fear, disgust, as the case may be, as if
something strange had befallen him,
as if he had had an initiation into
mystery and had come into communion
with dreadful influences. A re-
ligion which men hate as prosecuting, !
anti-sociaL revolutionary, as dividing
families separating chief friends-if
There be such a religion now in the
world, it is not unlike Christianity as
that same world viewed it, when first it |
came forth from Its Divine Author"
~
The paralleliSm drawn out in this |
passage by the illustrious author is ex-
act; 1 have chosen for quotation as
much of it as viii serve the purpose of |
the present paper. in which 1 propose |
TO illustrate one point in which the feel |
ing Of non-Catholics of today resem-
bies that of the pagan world toward |
Christianity when it was yet new. One |
OF the many accusations brought |
against Christians was an unnatural |
rejection Cf the sacred ties of blood
relationship.
IT is not unlikely that from early
times the cultivated among the heather
were at least cuTsOrily acquainted with
the gospels and other books of the New
Testament. 1t is needless to remark
that in the absence of Christian in
suuctiou. they would not be likely to
understand much Of their meaning.
Even Christians themselves frequently
misiuterpreted the teachings of the New
Testament: and. in times of perpleXity
took up mistaken lines of conduct in
the face Of the difficulties which arose
from the necessity Of living in the midst
Of corrupt pagan society. Hence too
severe and mistaken ascetism; such as
abstention from marriage. from the
wrong motive Of a general condemna-
ton of the marriage tie as something in
itself sinful Only the living church
herself could interpret, in the face OF
eHer-changing circumstances. the bind
lHs force and exact extension of gospel
pracerts and counsels. Thus we find d
council ID the fourth century obliged 10
aHathematize those who say that mar
Red persons cannot be saved.
A tomior therefore. the heather who
read tha Christian Scriptures would I'M
derstand them very little. Doubtless.
such one reading the words OF Our
LORD: IF any man comes to me, ana
hate Tot his father and mother, and
Wife and children. and brethren and |
sisters yea, and his own life also, ne
nanao, be- MY disciple" (St. Luke, xiv, l
20. would be seized with horror at such
doctrine
Moreover. he would have seen that ]
doctrine literally carried out in action \
'E The Christian converts. We know |
many instances of martyrs, who had to {
resist the tears and entreaties of par !
'HjS. husband. wife or children; en- 7
treaties of tears made at the instance :
@. the heather judges themselves, who !
made this last appeal to the feelings ,
u The accused iIr order to induce them :
10 deny the faith.
Have We not the same thing IN our !
own days. How many mas
aa o. bear the reproaches, the tears !
he 3soniZed entreaties Of father, or
mother. or husband. or wife, or chill Q
Hel. Part icularly in the case of those q
Poe iHd themselves called, not only J
The Catholic church, but TO the re- 1
-slous life-does not the world con- !
Tenn them as utterly heaTtless and lost s
% tl natural affection; does it not ab-
I'D. the system which demands such b
a.rifces?
s. Il
Like the heather of old, the nom 8
aolic world of today seems utterly v
anie to understand the Church. The a
'ion that sometimes, under certain O
i'eumstauces. natural affection must II
rot be abolished. but give way To q G
'Sner love, and that. in so giving way, s.
IS purified. intensified and improved 8
nh supernatural love, is as incom- Y
fehensible now as il was in the nrsl Il
euturies. {,
But IL is necessary 10 prove TO the o
Inside world that, however incompre- s,
ensible it may appear. such sacrlhce !;
oes not involve the loss of natural ~
tection; and that the Catholic chufcn = =
oes not condemn the love of kindred,
NJ encourages and sauctifies IL. the q
est proof is to be found in facts. To- y y
AVS We may point with confidence 10 u
le deep affection found in good II
atholic family. The priest is sup y
)sed TO interfere in family affairs, 10
ienate the love and duty of children u
ON fbni, ~ r.oY,fc of zx-fx-pS from their IL