The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-01

The Most Reverend Archbishop has
issued the following statement in re-
ply to the charges made by Bishop
Bristol and DR.. Rice during the Quad
rennial Conference of the Methodist
Church now in session in Minneapolis
regarding the condition of the Catho-
lie Church in South America:
Unchivalrous, indeed, should | deem
myself, and unworthy of the respon-
sibilities of my sacred office, did not,
firmly and fearlessly, challenge into
the field of open discussion, and
searching investigation the men, under
whatever banner they march, who,
with conscious bravado born of the
confidence that the adversary is far
away, go through the land, pouring out
in unstinted word and unstinted hate,
Misrepresentation and calumny against
my brethren and colleagues of the
Catholic hierarchy of the Republics of
South America. And, SO, give forth
the challenge to Bishop Frank M. Bris-
to1 and Rev. William Rice, members
of the Quadrennial Methodist Confer
ence, now in session in the City of
Minneapolis.
In writing as l now do l have this
regret that / may seem to be at war
with all members of the Quadrennial
Conference. I know that inside the
walls of the Conference there are the
many that love peace, that love truth,
that fain would bride the wild tongues
of Incorporate brethren, bent on the
futile task of beating down, per fas
ct nefas," the battlements of the Cath
olic Church, whose fury, however, they
are powerless to mitigate. To the
friends of peace in the Conference |
proffer apology, and trust they will
pardon what, were it not for me a
duty, I myself should consider an un.
warranted intrusion into their affairs
The Church Everywhere the Same.
I have more on my hands than the
defence of the Catholic Church In
South America. 1t is the defence OF
the Catholic Church in the United
States. The Catholic Church in it's doc.
trines and mandates is the same the
world over. It's unity in it's wide
spread CathoIicity is its legitimate
boast: everywhere it teaches the same
doctrines and principles: everywhere
it moves and works under the guiding
hand of the same Chieftain, the Pom
tiff of Rome. To say that in teaching
and mandate the Catholic Church is
wrong anywhere, is to say that it is
wrong wherever it is. 1t is nothing
short of an insult to the Catholics OF
the United States to tell them, as Rev.
w. F. Rice dares to, that their reli.
gion is "Protestantized Roman Cath
olicism," that from them Methodists
and others will not understand what
Catholicism, "in it's true FORM" means
Catholics of the United States indig
nantly repel the insult that they are
"Protestantized" Catholics. To pass ii
by silently were on their part an ad
mission Of schism and heresy, God
help the Catholics of the United
States If Catholicism cannot be learn
ed from them in it's true form!" Their
Catholicism, God be thanked, is in
deed, Catholicism, Gin it's true form; -
and their Catholicism is exactly that
which is preached by the Catholic
Church in South America, as in every
other land under the sun. And right
here let me say to non-Catholics ot
Minneapolis and st. Paul: We are
among you; every Sunday our doc
trines are spoken from the pulpits oi
fifty or more temples; our works are
in the open; our schools, colleges, in
stitutions of charity and religion, will
ingly swing apart their portals to Wis
it's from you. Do you wish to know
the Catholic Church in it's true form?'
See us, question us, judge us, and
as you judge us, Judge the Catholic
Church as it is in South America, al
it is in every quarters of the globe.
The Forged Encyclical.
r -