The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-06-19
and AgnOStlclSm.

be deeply interested in the very able
explanation of his Catholicity given
by Rev. FIR. Mullaly, who has made
frequent visits to the Twin Cities, and
has conducted missions frequently in
the Twin Cities, and in Duluth. In
answering the question, "Why 1 am
Catholic" Father Mullaly announces
that he is speaking for any one of
average reason and capacity, educa.
ton and intelligence why am a
Catholic" is answered by Father Null
laly as follows:
d am a Catholic because l be-
lieve in human reason and its validi.
ty. believe that there is an essen
tial difference between human reason
and animal instinct, not difference
merely in degree but difference in
kind, by which can reason about and
draw conclusions concerning myself
and the world about me, by which
can control my own instincts within
reason and even crush them If so
desire. l can reason from the cause
of thing to its effect or from an
effect back to cause. My observa-
ton tells me that the animal king
dom is guided merely by its instinct
and experience, and has no such quail
ity as my human reason. I can even
transcend the earth and go to heaven
ly bodies, nay even above and beyond
them; l can ask the whence, the how,
the why and the where of all things.
"2-I am Catholic because T. be.
lieve that beyond the universe and
still in it, transcending it, imminent
in it and yet apart from it, is an i'm.
mense, immeasurable, transcendant,
ubiquitous, omnipotent, omniscient,
all good, all just, all merciful, all low
ing being whom we call God. l be-
lieve in God because l cannot under
stand anything that is except God
exists. Reputable modern science and
philosophy tell me that once upon
time in the space which our universe
occupies, there was absolutely moth
ing, an aching void. l am confronted
with the fact that out of this absolute
nothingness a universe has sprung,
so gigantic that my mind cannot even
conceive its magnitude. Explain it.
l cannot unless there is before and in
dependent of it an all-powerful Being
who called it into existence. God is
the answer to my question.
Science tells me that once upon a
time this vast universe was in the
form of a rapidly 'whirling gaseous
vapor. l ask from whence came the
motion? One of the basic laws of nat
ural science, that of inertia, tells me
that body at rest cannot start NOV
ing except it is acted upon by some
forces external to it. Therefore, when
I ask this cause of the original motion
in the universe, l am confronted with
the answer, the First Cause, God.
Science tells me of the Transformation
or evolution of the universe and see
that it has been toward a. definite end.
There is evidence of order and intelr-
gent design all through it. Explain it.
l cannot unless there is God. God
is forced on my intelligence with such
an over-powering certainty that can.
not deny His existence.
1.-THE smallest form of life is indis-
putable evidence of the existence of a
great God. The greatest scientists of
the nineteenth century demonstrated
beyond all doubt and their proofs have
been confirmed repeatedly that life
does not and in the nature of the case
cannot spring from non-life. Spon-
taneous generation is an absolute Inn.
possibility. There was time when
life of any sort whatsoever was nom
existent. Whence came it? Again the
answer, God.
Some scientists Of the nineteenth
century have elaborated the theory of
evolution of species. 1t is only q
theory and in the nature of the case
is unprovable. The modern world con-
siders 1t a modern theory but fifteen
centuries before Darwin was born st.
Augustine, the greatest doctor of the
early Church, enunciated the same
theory when he said that God created
only the seeds of things with latent
powers to develop, and he could not
decide from his own reason whether
but one type of life or several distinct
types had been created. After fifteen
centuries Of scientific endeavor, repu-
table men Of science are unable to
change his conclusion. Evolution de.
stroys nothing of the belief in God, it
demands It, 1t only puts back the orr
gin of life for something else to ex.
plain. The only explanation is God.
Even though the body of man be
the result of evolution from a lower
form, how explain mans spiritual ma
ture? The vast majority Of mankind
have always believed in q spiritual ma.
ture and how explain 1t unless God is
its author?
Then explain the existence in the
world of such things as right and
wrong of conscience, of q moral law,
OF justice and the demand for repara-