Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-15
CONFESSIONAL IS UPHELD
Rev. Father Sherman Delivers DOctriasl
Lecture At CREIGHTON College
QUOTES CHRIST As The AUTHORITY
Also Points Ont that ~ serves as a
Deterrent 20 wrOsEdeInE-Num-
her of Questions Are
Answered.

The largest gathering since the inauEurs-
non OF the course of lectures At Creighton
university han. Tweuty-ffth and California
streets. by Rev. Thomas z. sherman. s
j., greeted the eminent lecturer Saturday
evening, when nearly every available seat
was occupied and were highly entertained
oy hts able address on the subject The
Tribunal OF Penanee." Father Sherman
wa In magnificent voice and his remarks
"erS punctuated with epiErams Indicative
OF complete and thorough grasp of the
subject which IL ono OF the principal tenets
OF the Roman Catholic faith
duct, THE Homeland" was admirably
rendered by Clara McnerInott and Grace
Lowe before the commencement of the ad-
dress by the speaker Of the evening, and
at the close Of the lecture a male quartet
from the choir OF ct. Johns church ef-
fectively sang Nearer Ny God to Thee -
The theme Of the lecture WAS an exposl-
tion and thorough explanation OF the ma
tura ana object NJ the confessional a. II
is usad IN the Roman Catholic fsith As
prenesis to his arguments supporting
the necessity for and the vital function
played by the tribunal Of the confessional
in the church. Father Sherman delivered
= dramatic and realistic presentation Of
the story Of Mary of Magdala, familiar
TO Bthie students. telling in thrilling man
ner OF the years OF riotous living spent by
the Mas,daiene and Of her final conversion
at the feet of the Saviour. This example
was given as an argument in support OF
the functions of the confessional and was
then followed by the scriptural lesson
wherein Christ is reported to have said
10 Tns disciples ''whosoever's sine you for
give, they are forgiven them"
Conveyed Power OF ForEiveness
Father Sherman said: by these words
contend. and ! DO not believe the state
ment Is open 10 SUCCESSFUL contradiction,
that Christ conveyed the power Of forgive
uers OF sin to HIS apostles. What Christ
iid then He can do now. and by that
power delegated 20 me l can and have
forgiven the sins OF thousands and thou
sands, for there can be no doubt that man
can DO Gods delegate 10 wipe sin from
souls now wen as in oiden times Con-
fession is needed by the nature OF the
case. for example that OF Magdalene.
Taking the premises that we are the
recipients OF apostolic power. which I will
prove tomorrow night. | maintain that we
have the right and are subject to the duty
to fudge OF the sins OF the souls committed
TO our charge. The confession is the tri-
buna1 sanctioned by Christ and II acts as
a deterrent upon the commission Of wrong
or immoral acts. az absolution cannot be
given until restitution is made by the
wrongdocr. Considered as an aid to con-
science. SO IL n that ideals Of Christian
virtue are kept alive by that tribunal
which has proved 50 effcacious.''
Several questions submitted the previous
evening were answered by Father Sherman
and proved to be one OF the most interesting
features of the lecture One of the ques-
lions submitted and answered by Father
Sherman was: why do Catholics refrain
from eating meat on Fridays" The lee
turer said that the prohibition OF eating
meat on Fridays was test Of obedience,
not that meat is not Just AS tasteful on
Fridays as On other days of the week,
Not Necessary to Kneei.
when asked why Catholics kneel when
praying Father Sherman replied: This Is
not always the case. the more important
prayers are said while standing, hut the
attitude OF kneeiing is an indica ton of sub
mission and alteration. although n PRAYER
said while standing sitting or kneeliny
would be just we'll In my opinion. II
fact St Theresa said that prayers should
be said In the attitude which was the most
comfortable TO the worshiper."
Sunday night Father sherman will lecture