The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-24


you answered a question as to what
is the attitude of the Catholic Church
towards Equal Suffrage, to which you
answered, that the Church holds no
criticism against it. You also stated
that some of its dignitaries have and
utter opinions that are direct opposites
to those of the Church., that is their
political opinions. 1t seems very
clear to me that if it is clearly unjust,
unreasonable, and bigoted, for any in
diViduaI to criticise the dogma of the
Church solely from the political utter
ances of its dignitaries, which is, as
! am given to understand that all ut
terances by any Catholic relating to
the material existence, those utter
ances cannot be taken and used as a
basis for the condemnation of the
Church. 2. Am right in assuming
that If it is wrong for any person to
criticise the Church from the anti
political, anti-economic, anti-sociaI-
economic uttered opinions of it's men,
bers, It Is just as wrong for any
Catholic to criticise Socialism from
the anti-reIigious utterances of any
socialist member? In the debate in
EVerybodys Mr.. HilIquit stated that
it is unjust to criticise Socialism from
the utterances against religion by
some of it's members, stating that
those opinions are their own individ-
uaIIy and not those of Socialism, that
Socialism is purely a political-econ-
omic movement, and that it has moth
ing against religion, that is in so far
as the anti-sociaIistic expressions of
Church dignitaries, their individual
expressions, are digested by members
of the Church as the precepts of the
true Socialism.
l. If you will re-read carefully the
item to which you refer you will find
that it was stated that "the Catholic
Church has made no pronouncement
on the question" (of Woman Suf-
frage). Hence it follows THAT we
did not state that 'some of the dig
nitaries have and utter opinions that
are direct opposites to those of the
Church" How could they do so if the
Church has made no official state
ment on the question at issue? What
we said was that on the question of
Woman Suffrage Catholic clergymen
take different views" and that is true
No utterance by Catholic on Woman
Suffrage can be construed as either
for or against Church doctrine since
the Church has not dealt with this
political question 2. Socialism is
not purely political or purely econ
omic doctrine, but has very definite
moral and religious aspects. The
teachings of the recognized leaders
of Socialism show that it is anti-re-
ligious in it's fundamental conceptions.
1t is not unjust to criticise Socialism
from the anti-religious utterances of
some of it's members when these mem
bers are the recognized leaders of
the Socialistic propaganda. AS such,
they speak officially for the movement
and their doctrines are of fundamental
Importance. If you will wait until
you see the next few numbers of
"Everybody's Magazine" you will find
the whole question threshed out very
fully between DR.. Ryan and Mr.. Hill
quit.
Is dance for the benefit of the
Church permitted on the evening of
New Years Day?
If a dance is to be given for the
benefit of the Church, it should not be
given on a HOLIDAY of obligation. In
some dioceses it is absolutely forbid
den to hold dances for the benefit of
the Church or any object for which
the Church stands sponsor.
I. Is it a mortal sin to eat meat on
Friday? 2. Is it as great sin to eat
soup made from meat as it is to eat
meat on Friday? 8. When eating In
a public place how are we to find out
if the soup is made from meat with
out asking embarrassing questions? q
Why does the Church forbid the mar
rage of brother and sister-n-laW? S
Would it not be dangerous for any
one religious denomination to be toe
strong or powerful? Does not history
say that Catholics as we'll as Protes
tants took advantage of their posi-
tons?
1. 1t is sin knowingly to disobey
the laws Of the Church. Whether il
will be mortal sin or not depends or
the gravity of the precept which is
broken as we'll as on the intention Of
the person transgressing it. If one
eats meat on Friday to show contempt
for this law of the Church it would
be mortal sin and any Catholic who
eats meat on Friday is sure to give
scandal to all, be they Catholic Oh
Protestant, who know that he is {
Catholic. 2. The prohibition extends
to one as much as to the other
If you are in doubt, ask. If you d.
not wish to ask, cut out the soup. 4
Because of the relationship which ex
lists between a husband and the BLOOD
relations of his wife, or between {
wife and the blood relations of he
husband. This relationship is thu
foundation of the impeachment know
as affinity which makes lawful mar
riage between man or woman ant
the relations of the deceased wife O
husband null and void, even to tn,
fourth degree of kindred. Since thi
impediment is an ecclesiastical on
the Church can dispense from it in
particular case if there be good rea
sons for doing SO < If would h.