The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-01-13

This rebuke of st. Peter by st. Paul
cannot logically be brought forward
as an argument against the Primary
unless it be first proved that it is
always unlawful for an inferior to cor
rect Il superior. But this is not the
teaching of Christianity Matt. xviii
15). To reprehend ones superior in
defence of justice and of truth, firmly
though with due Difference to his
authority, may sometimes be an i'm,
perativC duty. There are several in
stances in the history of the Church
where holy men and women, like st.
Bernard, st. Thomas of Canterbury
and ST Catherine of Siena, have re-
buked Popes while fully acknowledge
ing their authority.
st. Alphonsus thus answers this OBJ
lection C'Verita della Fede," p. iii.
c. vii. 12): AS to the apprehension
Of st. Peter by st. Paul, some,
as St. Jerome (Com. in Gal. ii, IL,
answer that this dispute was precon-
Ccrted purposely to tranquilize the
Jews; but others, with st. Augustine
lEpistle 50 II. 22), ST. Cyprian Cad.
Quint., ep. III, st. Gregory Sup.
Ezech., HON., 1S), st. Thomas e.. 2.
q. SO, a. 1 ad y, and st. Jerome him
self (Adv. Pelag., lib. l. -, when he
afterwards retracted, say more COM
monty, and with greater probability,
that these words were a real repre-
hension, but that there was no ques-
tion of doctrine involved: viz, as to
whether, under the Evangelical law,
the legal obsCrvanceS of the Jews
were to be still maintained. ST. Peter
was we'll aware that these obServ-
anceS were to be abolished, nay more,
before this-when st. Paul brought
tidiIgs of what the converted Jews
were doing at Antioch, and how they
would have the Gentiles who believed
TO be cirCumcised-it was st. Peter
who severely blamed such a preten-
sion, saying: Now, therefore, why
tempt you God. to put yoke upon the
neCkS of the disciples, which neither
our fathers nor we have been able
10 bear" (ACts XIV, 100. But in this
case the question was one only of a
point Of discipline and eXpedience;
that is, whether or not it was then
fitting and eXpedient to wholly abol-
Ish the Mosaic Law. For though it
was already dead, it had not yet be-
come deadly to those who observed
it (cf Acts xvi, 5, where ST. Paul has
Timothy circumcise6. 1t was
with good reason, however, that St.
Paul afterwards blamed st. Peter,
when, from fear of displeasing the
Jewish converts, he separated from
the Gentiles, who did not observe the
Mosaic Law; for at that time it was
of more Importance not to shock the
Gentle believers, who we're many,
than not to displease the Jewish con-
VeTtS, who were few in number, and
ought to have had no reasonable
grounds for scandal because the un-
circumcised did not follow their Gus
TOMS" (Livius, st. Peter, Bishop
of Rome" PIP. 334-348, who also cites
Dollinger First Age of the Church,
vol. i. PIP. 79-105.)
Why does the Catholic Church not
fight the Menace? Surely it is power.
full enough to put the Menace out OF
existence.
1t is not the duty of the Catholic
Church to put the Menace or any other
paper out of existence. If the laws
OF the country are violated by any
publication, it rests with the govern
ment to enforce the laws and sup
press the paper. The un-American
character of the Menace was publicly
acknowledged by it's editors during
the progress of a recent trial in Jop
lin, Missouri; on more than one occa
sion the records of court-triaIs estab
li5hed beyond all shadow of doubt that
the Menace published open calumny
in several instances, the Menace was
forced to retract. These are facts OF
public record, and they manifest the
periodical as a real menace to all that
is high and noble in American life
If our laws are SO lax and their en-
forcement SO faint-hearted that the
mails are open to so scurrilous a pub
LEGATION, the responsibility rests with
the government and not with the
Church. The Menace has proved to
be indeed an insult to American hon
or; it has not injured the Catholic
Church.
"May we not believe that all Chris
tian denominations avail to salvation
provided a man lives up to the princi
FILES of the religion he processes?
No; for though under certain con
ditions some may be saved, who, with
out any fault of their own, are not
outwardly that is, visibly, united tc
the body of the Church, yet it is a
great mistake to say that all Christian
religions or denominations are good
and lead to salvation.
The Church of Jesus Christ can be
but one and Jesus Christ has threat
ened condemnation to any one who re
fuses to hear this one appointed divine
Teacher. Mark xvi, 16)
We are as much bound to submit
our intellect to God as we are bound tt
submit our will to Him. But to give
credit to opinions taught by persons
not sent by God, or by Interpreters
not authorized by Him, is not submit