The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-03-18

tant AGREES to read literature furnish
ed by the Catholic on condition that
the Catholic be equally liberal. The
pact is carried out, with the result
that the Catholic joins the Protestant
Church. Can he be saved wh'Ie ne
remains in that state?
Liberalism, observation-disclosures. free
speech, free-thought and such, are
words that appeal readily to the popu-
lar mind To question their instant
and universal acceptance is to place
oneself in the dark ages. In
truth. however, no one is free to do
wrong in word or thought or act; nor,
NAV one be so broadminded as
to accept error with truth; nor, so
liberal as to approve Of what is raise.
Further, no one is free to question
the truth. The Catholic religion IS
the truth of God, sealed with the
divine sanction of miracles and
prophecies. To question the Cath-
Ole faith is, then, to question the
truth of the God of truth, an act
evidently blasphemOus. A Cathollc
is guilty of this crime when he pre-
tends to investigate for himself the
truth of the Catholic faith; or, III
doubtful mind, to weigh its CLAIMS
with those of any other faith. Error
can assume most specious appear
ance of truth. Not every one can
distinguish the falsehood In clever
sophistry. In the case proposed the
Catholic evidently was not competent
TO winnow, in the Protestant Itera-
tre. the wheat from the chaf, nor
TO discern the weak and false reason
ing in the arguments advanced In
the danger that he entered voluntarily
he found ready and effective help
from the evil spirit, who Willingly
darkened still more his understanding
and led him first to question dlVlne
truth. then to embrace false worship
In the course that he followed, We
fail to discover any step that would
remove his guilt. While in that state
he is denying Christ, and CHRIST mas
said. He who denies me before
men. him l will deny before my
Father who is in Heaven
Some may fancy that this same
course of reasoning would be equally
applicable to the Protestant; and,
then. the Catholic did wrong in offer
ing TO him Catholic literature. II
the Protestant was in perfectly GOOD
faith. believing without question that
his was the faith revealed by Christ
was in error; for God will judge eacE
one according to his lights. For this
reason it is rarely if ever that a
Catholic opens a dispute on religion,
fearing lest he offend the conscience
of his brother. Ordinarily Protes-
tants have not, we believe, this
implicit faith. Besides, one OF their
principles is the right OF private
individual Judgment, which IN con-
science iustifes them in reading mat
fer for or against their faith. Conse-
ouently, it was right for the ProteS
tant to read the Catholic literature,
subiectively because he was not
thereby violating any principle OF con-
science: and effectively because ne
was reading the truth. That he die
not accent it's teachings may be eX-
nlained bv his lack of good will; or,
Nv the truth not being presented 10
him with convincing clearness; or,
that may not have been for him the
"'day Of visitation.
~
Please explain what is the Dying
InduIaence," and the conditions for
gaining it.
The Indulgence referred to is
probably the Apostolic blessing that
NAV be given to one who is in danger
of death. The faculty to grant this
blessing was formerly reserved to the
Pope himself. Later it was extended
to Bishops. In the United States
the Bishop ordinarily grants it to all
his nriests who have the care of souls
It conveys a plenary Indulgence. be
sides the ordinary condition for
receiving any indulgence, i. e., free
dom from the guilt at least OF all
mortal sin, to receive this Apostolic
blessing it is necessary 10 partake
of the sacraments and be resigned tc
the will of God and to invoke the
name of Jesus in ones heart, ii one
cannot with ones lips. The blessing
NAV be given when there is danger
of death; and the indulgence attach
ed to the blessing is applied at the
time of death.
May married people limit the num-
Der of children born 10 them?
God made man and woman tc
nerpetuate the race. The command
was increase and multiply" This
nurpose is attained, this law fulfilled
in the married life. Nevertheless, Il
married couple are willing to live
life of CONTINGENCY, as though they
were not married, whether from one
motive or another, they are free tt
do so. The relationship allowed II
the married life is right that ma!
be made use of or not, according t
the will of both. But this righ
carries with it corresponding obi
CATION that was imposed by thu
Creator of man and woman. TX
shirk in any way the obligation
while enjoying the privilege, i
against Nature and against God. W.
see how far mans sense of right ma!
be depraved when men and women
learned in many branches of science
will advocate means of violatin: