The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-11

l. what is the attitude or the Church
on bull-fighting? 2. Can matador be
good Catholic? 8. is the parochiaI
school question settled in the Philip
pines? 4. Is not this a question for
the civil authorities, the Philippine
Assembly or the local municipal
bodies? 5. Are the priests in Mexico
opposed to land reform? 6. If they
are, has Villa the right to put them to
death? z. Why are you against Villa.
l. The Church has often condemned
bull-fghting. Today the prohibition is
limited to clergymen and religious on
all days, to all on holy days. Moralists
as a rule see nothing against natural
ethics in the game properly conducted;
the skill and deXterity of the athletes
preclude all serious danger to life
and limb. Spaniards do not enjoy
mere bloodshed and slaughter; they do
appreciate the contest and the victory
of human skill and intelligence
against mere brute strength and
ferocity. 1t may be an open question
whether American prize fighting is
worthier of q civilized people. g Yes
3. No. Parochial and other Catholic
schools are few and overcrowded;
while Catholic education is quite in
dispensable for the Filipinos. f. Civil
authorities appointed by the United
States are in no sense qualified just as
they are not authorized or empowered
to settle the question Of religion in
education. 5. No. 6. Because eXecu-
ton of political opponents (if priests
were opponents) who are non-com-
batants is plain murder. z. Because
Villa has demonstrated to the world
that he is unfit to regenerate Mexico
He utterly lacks moral principles and
instinct. He has no more respect for
the rights Of Mexican poems than he
has for the rights OF foreigners
Huerta was recognized as president
by all countries except our own. He
continues to speak respectfully of us
and our president, and to protect our
interests in so far as he can. He is
not the monster his enemies declare
him to be.
I. What are the pIanchette and the
ouija board? 2. Is it wrong for Catho-
lies to make use of them.
1. The planchette is a small board
fitted with a pencil and two castors,
made to move easily over a sheet of
paper when hands rest lightly upon
it. The ouija board, ouija or ouiga is
a form of planchette used in spiritistic
seances and the like; it consists Of
two parts, board containing the
alphabet and other characters, and a
planchette with a pointer substituted
for the pencil. 2. 1t is wrong to use
them for purposes Of spiritism.
1. Do the souls departed derive more
benefit from High Requiem Mass
than from a Low Mass? 2. Does one
merit in the sight of God Increase in
proportion to the amount of the
stipend he offers in order to get Holy
Mass said for his Intention? 8. Can
holy souls still in Pursatory help US?
/. Yes. 2. Yes; but remember the
story of the widows mite. In these
matters our merit depends on the
purity of our intention, and the effort,
the sacrifice we make for God g. We
may piously believe that God makes
our wants known to them if we so
desire that He inspires them to pray
for us, and that He hears their pray
ers. But the Church has not pro-
nounced any formal decision in this
matter; but we give you the opinion
of ST. Alphonsus and other theologians.
1. Why are Greek Catholic priests
allowed to marry? 2. What is the diff
ference between Creek Catholic
priest and Roman Catholic priest. 8.
ere there any books in the Reference
Room of ST. Paul Public Library on
this question.
l. You say you read The Catholic
Bulletin on this question before. Why
not read it again? Here is what we
said: There are no countries in
which Catholic priests are permitted
to marry. Priests who belong to the
Greek Catholic Church are permitted
to marry before they are ordained
deacons, and are allowed to live with
their wives after ordination. =
The law Of celibacy is not of divine
origin-it is q law of the ChUrch-a
disciplinary measure which is subject
to change" dune 20, 1914) The
tendency is toward observance of the
Western discipline in this matter. 2.
Historical reasons explain the differ
ence of disciplinary law. 8. The Cath
Ollie Encyclopaedia Celibacy
vol. ii, p. 4S1.
What kind of ring is worn by a
Bishop?
Bishops wear an amethyst ring
usually with gold mounting. 1t is
not a seal ring. 1t is worn to signify
the fidelity of the Bishop to his See, to
which he is as it were welded.
1. Did Archhishops in Feudal times
have standing armies? 2. Is the book
"Thekla," by Robert Barr authentic?
8. If Sundays in Lent are not counted
as fast days, why are meat and fish
not allowed at the same meal.
1. Not unless they were secular
princes in addition to being Arch
bishops. The piety of Christian