The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-05-11
: 2zIB|sHOP REPLIES
TO BISHOP BURT
Answers the Charges Made in His Ad-
dress Before the General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in Minneapolis.

In the course or an address before
the Quadrennial General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church now
in session in Minneapolis, Bishop Burt,
of Europe, made an envenomed attack
on European Catholicism. The Most
Reverend Archbishop Ireland replied
to him in the following communication
which was published in the daily press
of the Twin Cities:
The animadversions on the Catholic
Church made by Bishop William Burt
at a recent session of the General
Conference of Methodism must be dis
missed as unworthy of a detailed re-
ply. So gross they are, and so
gratuitous that to give attention to
them would be undeserved honor
Catholics see in them the angry ex-
plosion of despair provoked by the
Bishops inability to put forward
charges even seemingly substantiated
in fact Or argument, the last resort of
vindictiveness-the throw of black
mud against parapets and walls, long
ago proven indestructible-the futile
and thus, perhaps, avert from them,
were it only for the moment, the ad-
miring gaze of the unrefiecting OBJ
server. Catholics are too accustomed
to being attacked by such arms of war
fare as those that Bishop Burt holds
in hand to allow them other recogni-
tion than that of contemptuous dis
dain. Nor shall I believe that intelli-
gent and honorable non-Catholics will
be. ready to judge cause from the
unproven assertions of an opponent
whose bitterness of words is only a
too manifest token of bitterness of
heart and short-sightedness of mind
Bishop Burt's Charges
Roman Catholicism" Bishop Burt
says, "is substantially paganism in it's
conceptions, doctrines, traditions,
fears, hopes and promises, most of
which have no counterpart in reality"
No proof is attempted: Bishop Burt
so speaks: no other proof is presumed
to be needed. "si guarda passa,"
Dante should have exclaimed: one
hears and shrugs ones shoulder.
Again: Some of the Roman Cath
olic festivals in certain parts of Italy
still retain the characteristics of
Bacchanalian feasts. If the horrid
crimes once connected with them are
not now openly committed, it is sim
ply because of the presence of the
civil authorities" No proof is given:
no places are named: Bishop Burt
simply speaks. know Italy and there
have taken part in Catholic festivals:
and l unhesitatingly repel as untrue
and outrageous the statements of
Bishop Burt.
Again: Nearly all the educated
people Tin Italy, have turned away
from Romanism in disgust" Nearly
all-Bishop Burt, no doubt, speaks of
those Italians with whom he consorts.
Nearly all Italians, the educated no
less than the uneducated, whom I met
in my travels through Italy, or whom
I heard about, openly declare them
selves Catholics: in the last national
census of Italy nearly the whole popu-
lation, freely and without solicita-
ton, had themselves registered as
Catholics.
italian MethodIsn.
"Our Mission in Italy," Bishop Burt
continues, sis to show the people that
Roman Catholicism against which they
have rebelled is not Christianity" For
those words I must thank Bishop Burt.
Here he tells the truth. Some Metho-
dist preachers, doing work in Italy,
are ashamed of the hateful war waged
there by Methodism against the Cath
olic Church and strive to persuade
Americans that other are the pur-
poses Of the Methodist Mission. Dr.
z. 3. T. Spencer, Director of the "Col-
legio Metodista," in Rome, makes this
announcement: 'T shall state i'm most
positive form and sincerity that we are
not here for the purpose of fighting
the Roman Church We are
here, strange to say, for the purpose
1 of promoting education" But Bishop
Burt speaks officially and authorita-
lively: The Methodist Mission in
Italy is to show the people that Roman
Catholicism is not Christianity.
thank the Bishop for clearing up the
situation. must, In this connection,
ask the Bishop to define his concept
of Christianity, as also his concept of
Catholicism. His hearers will then be
better prepared to agree with, or to
contest his assertion that Catholicism
10 not Christianity. Meanwhile, am
fully justified In declaring that most
certainly Catholicism 10 not the Chris
tianity held and taught by Bishop
Burt.
Continued ON page a.