The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-12-30
PAS TORAL LETTER
OF THE RIGHT REVEREND JOS
EPH =. BUSCH, BISHOP OF
LEAD.

10 Lu6 TTl0SLS anu FdlLnlu1 OIL LHc
Diocese of Lead: 1888
Beloved Brethren: At the begin
ming of the new year it is we'll for us
to remind ourselves of the many re-
sponsibilities that rest upon us and to
make such definite plans and resolu-
tons as may be necessary to fulfil
our different duties.
Among our responsibilities there
are none more important than those
of religion. Alas, such is the confus-
ion and carelessness in matters of
religion, not only outside the church
selves or are considered her members,
that it seems necessary to call spe-
cial attention to even the most ele-
mentary Catholic practices, to duties
that until recently were accepted by
all without question and observed al
most without exception g..
Praetical Catholics.
re auty Of Public Worship, at
tendance at Mass on Sundays and
Holvdavs of Obligation, the duty of
Se1fdenfal. keeping Fasts and Abstin-
ences the Annual Confession and
Communion; the duty OF Church Sup
port according to ones means: the
Observance OF the Marriage Laws,
these were considered obvious and
serious duties By our parents. Will
they be so accepted by our children 4
Not unless they are faithfully obser-4
ed BY ourselves,
So important are these matters th
no one can be considered a Catholic
in good standing, or as we say prac-
teal Catholic. who disregards any OF
the duties which the church has de-
fined in her special precepts or COM
mandments.
Strictly speaking, only a practical
Catholic, one in good standing, one
who observes the precepts OF the
church, is entitled to The benafits III
the church ana s,ssd u y Ct U.s. ID
Catholics are not entirely denied the
blessings and rites of the church it is
only because of the long suffering pa
thence commanded by the Savior, her
founder.
But bad and careless Catholics can
not expect public recognition or hon.
ors at the hands of the church which
they outrage and disgrace by their
| unworthy lives On the contrary the
church owes it to herself, to her loyal
members and to the outside world to
resent and protest against the insult
and injury offered to religion by those
unworthy of the name of Catholic.
A Catholic therefore who is notori-
ously careless in attending Mass, who
instead of observing the fasts and alb
stinences is a drunkard, or one who
stubbornly refuses to receive the Sac
| raments rather than abandon some
bad habit, one who evidently shirks
his just share of church support
| while he accumulates wealth or spends
his substance in extravagant self-in-
diligence and display; one who fol-
lows his passion or whim in defiance
of the marriage laws of the church,
such a one is a bad Catholic, a dry
branch, fit only for the fire. charac-
ter to be distrusted, avoided and dis
owned.
Therefore, only practical Catholics
will be publicly recognized by the
church. Only a Catholic in good
standing will be allowed to vote at
any parish meeting in the Diocese of
Lead, only such shall be eligible to
any Office, whether as church trustee
or as officer Of any Catholic Society.
Only Catholics in good standing at the
time of their death will be allowed a
Requiem High Mass and only the
names of such as have been good
practical Catholics will be mentioned
in the church when private masses
are announced for the departed.
An exception will be made only
when bad or careless Catholics have
declared before two reliable witnesses
| that they deplore the bad example
they have given, when they have ar
ranged for the settlement of their
church dues to the satisfaction of
their pastor and have promised
amendment for the future In case
these declarations and arrangements
have been made on their deathbed,
mention must be made thereof at the
time of the funeral.
To avoid any possible misunder,
standings pastors will, if possible, re,
mind careless Catholics regularly OF
their duties, especially the duty OF
church support, telling each as def.
nitely as they can what is expected,
and as so many are careless and neg.
ligent in this matter, all Confessors
will instruct their penitents especially
during the Easter season that neglect
of church support must be made a
matter of Confession.
Diocesan Regulations.
For the temporal interests of the
parishes the regulations laid down In
the Articles of Incorporation and By
Laws of each church should be faith
fully observed by all concerned.
Continued on page 81