The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-06-27
THE .JEFFERSON1AN


SO cheap rate, he will get drunk again, and do
penance for it with hearty good will.
VINO does not see that the practical result of
This spiritual, Or rather carnal discipline will be
TO fill him with the most determined and invet-
crate hatred for prayer, and for the Bible? He
+ Will love them just as SOON, and much the
schoolboy loves the rod! We may be told that in
many instances the operation Of the confessional
is beneficial that stolen property is frequently
restored to it's rightful owner, and that the mere
fact that the Papist acknowledges his obligation
TO confess his sins against God and his neighbor,
will make him careful not to commit such trans
gressions, especially when, in addition to the
dread of the humiliation of a minute confession,
ne IS deferred by fear of the sacramento satisfac
ton or pneance which his confessor may and
must impose. But supposng that all the
advantages are gained for which the most strenu-
Gus advocates of this Romish practice contend,
they are too dearly purchased The price is the
surrender of the penitent's liberty as a man. the
recognition Of blasphemous assumption of
divine prerogative, and the fatal deusion that
sins can be blotted out of the book of Gods re-
membrance, by means of paltry penance, i'm
posed at the option of the confessor! Satan
would rejoice to all the stolen property in
creation, restored such Jerms
eff the Romish priests were pure as angels,
and fully proof against the seductive influences
Of temptation as the marble pillars in their
thedral, it would still be objectionable idolatry
to confess to them, because this is act of
ship, which belongs to God alone. But, alas!
their reverences are most unfortunately, at best,
only earthen vessels and though they sit as God,
in temples professedly dedicated to the Most
High, they do occasionally afford lamentabe evi-
dence that they of like passions with the
rest of their fellow mortals We might remind
our readers OF facts illustrative of this remark,
but they are neither SO few or far between as to
render specifications very necessary. Let it not
be supposed, however, that we are so prejudiced
against Romish priests as to be unwilling to
cord to them the praise that is due; we may as
well acknowledge in this connection, the disin-
terested zeal of the hey fathers in the endow-
ment OF orphan asylums, and the special and al
most paternal regard which they entertain for
the nephews and nieces, with which kind Provi-
deRce bountifuly supplies the defect of the sons
and daughters for of course it is known that the
reverend confessors bound by of per-
petual celibacy, which under pain of sacrilege
they may not forget.
"But there is another view of the practical
operation of the confessional, which is calculated
to awaken alarm. We are not surprised at the
strict injunction of secrecy because it is the only
preservative of the confessional Penitents
would not resort to the priest, if this Injunction
were removed. But we call attention to the pre-
sumption which makes the authority, and which
absolves the priest from all guilt in concealing
anything which he has learned in confession, al
though the life salvation of man, or the ruin
of the State should be involved in his silence. TO
cap the climax if questioned concerning it, to use
the language of Dens: He must reply that he
does not know it, and if necessary HE MUST
CONFIRM THE SAME WITH AN OATH Again,
eff confessor be cited in judicial case that he
may give his reason for refusing absolution he
must protest that in this case. he acknowledges
superior except God" If we are not mis-
taken, case in point was tried some years ago in
the State Of New York, in which the court actually
recognized the priests scrupes; it is doubtful,
however, if confessor were detected in fiat
perjury by Philadelphia court, whether his rev.
erence would not have opportunity of pre-
pairing treatise fasting, according to the
rules of the Moyamensing Manual The results
of his experience would perhaps be very nearly
valuable the brilliant dissertations of Pope
Benedict XVI, on the drinking of chocolate, and
the smoking of segars a fast day; and, (Which
is very great consideration the materials for
the work would be collected at the expense of the
State, SO that, if the priest chose to be generous
he might devote the profits to the support of St.
Ornh how