Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-05-05
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TO CURE THE DISEASE
LUTHER ATTACKED
THE PATIENT

ed the article below.-tEd.
There apparently were abuses in the
matter of indulgences, but however,
none SO great as the enemies of the
Catholic Church charge. John Tetzel
NAV have overstepped the limit, in
fact. some histories say he did, and
even go to quote words alleged to be
his in the matter. However, despite
what has been said against Tetzel, his
own answer to Luther son Indulgen-
ces and Grace, and his defence of
one hundred and six theses against
Luther on the occasion of his taking
his licentiate in theology at the uni
yersity of Frankfort, A. D., 1917,
proves that he knew the doctrine of
the church, and if he didn't apply it,
should have.
The Catholic Church has never de-
MED that abuses have existed. Can
anyone point to anything in this
world, however good it may be, that
has not been abused at some time by
some body in some way? Over zeal in
those days led some preachers of indul-
gences to go beyond the teaching OF
the Church, or to engage sub rosa
in some personal trafficking. We can
proye this even from Church history
itself. for from the t1th to the 18th
century, during which the abuses ex-
listed, various Popes and Councils con-
demned them. The 2nd Lateran Coun-
Gil. of A. D., 1889, the 1st Lyons
Council, A. d. 1245, the Vienne Coun-
Gil A. D. 1911 and the councils of
Trent, A. D. 1916 1563-a these made
announcement against abuses of in
dulgences. Said the Council of Trent
(Sess XXV.): "Being DESTROYS that
the abuses which have crept in, and
nv the occasion of which the excellent
name of indulgences is blasphemed by
heretics, be amended and corrected, or
dain that all evil gains for the obtain
ing thereof whence most prollhc
cause of abuses among the Christian
people has been derived-be wholly
abolished"
Hence. Luther was following in the
footsteps of the Church in the matter,
but his denial of the dogma on ac-
count of it's abuses was about as
senseless as to deny the sanctity OF
matrimony because some weaklingf
break their marriage vows As far as
Pope Leo X. is concerned, he is sim
ply in parallel position with Moses
who demanded in Gods name from
the Jews offerings of gold. silver,
: brass, precious stones, oil and spices
Z for the tabernacle, and history ha'
never denied that the money when
l gained was not devoted to the purposes
4 for which it was demanded.
The statement made that Tetze
promised indulgences without .requir
ing contrition, cannot be proved, II
: fact is absolutely without proof. Ant
9 no Catholic ever will believe that let
: zels indulgences were more efhaciou
: than any others, for the efficacy OF al
indulgence depends upon the recipien
himself, and is decided by God Wit
searches hearts and reins. We recon-
mend the inquirer to study the ques
Z ton of indulgences closely as mucf
d misinformation exists thereon.
# AS far as John Huss is concerned
r the burning at stake was not yer!
: Christian-like procedure, any more 81
4 than our modern system of hanging o
h electrocution. We, it seems, have NO
II vet got over our barbarian proclivi
h ties. However, as long as it is suffer
ia ed to remain on our statute books
n criminals should pay the penalty
Huss was not granted safe condut
by the council which ordered him T
- be burned. Siegmund, emperor OF be
= hernia, promised Huss safe condue
- Eto and from the Council of Constance
- which met in 1414, and remained
F" session till 14tS, and Huss against tn
wishes of friends placed his life ]
= jeopardy of his own accord by goln
ar thither. There was a pretty livel
is time going on then with three pops
Zone history we consult says two
, one place, and three in another) TIL
y Siegmund induced Pope John XXI
10 one of the three, or two, to summo
the council which condemned Hus
Then the Council got busy and depose
3 him and the rest of the two or thr'
81 popes, electing Martin ", who WI
T. universally acknowledged pope. 1t
charged that this same Siegmund, wi
to proved weak ruler, was not any tt
is unwilling that Huss should be burr
ed, for his teachings were separatln
Bohemia from the empire. Then, to-
by his heresy, Huss was acting contr'
IS, nv to the law of the empire, which
It. the fifteenth century regarded it as
g, civil offence punishable by death.
?. 1t is interesting to note the Hussit
i were not so irreproachable in condu
s. themselves, for they got divided I'M
or Calixtines who wanted to get back il
lg TO the Church on con lition of recei'
ing the cup in the Lords Supper. an
the Taborites, who desired total sepa
alton from the church: and they hs
m to do little bloc lett ug themselv
to in battle near Prague in 1434 to Sc
m tie the matter, in which the Taborit
i'll were decisively defeated. Thereto