The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-06-30
POPULAR APoLoeETIcs.
Adapted from the German or Rev.
Peter Mikes, S. j., by Rev.
r James Watcher.
Do Right and Fear No One.

2. Do Right and Fear No One.
- objection: That is my principle;
that takes the place Of all religion.
Answer: The principle is not bad;
do right, but remember well, do right
to all, not only to men, but also to
God. God certainly has the right to
give us a revelation and to demand
faith in it; He has the right to pre-
scribe a certain definite religion and
to demand the practice of it. . v..,
Respect also this right and then
fear no one If, for example, you are
a Catholic and are convinced of the
truth of your religion then fear God
and really no one else.
DO right!'-But what is right?
Without God and religion this ques-
ton can not be answered.
Often the saying: do right and
fear no one" is only the threadbare
cloak for the shaking knees that do
not want to bow before God, because
they fear men. The fear of men
Chuman respecD is the spectre be-
fore the church door whispering: DO
wrong to God, but fear this man or
that woman" And only too many are
frightened by this spectre.
8. Natural Righteousness.
Objections: If one lives righteously
one needs no religion, at least not a
revealed religion. ~
Answer: That is just the trick"
to live righteously without religion
and revelation. Such righteous
persons often come very near the
prison door, and instead of obeying
the Ten Commandments of God they
try to obey the eleventh command
ment": Don't let yourself be caught!
An immaculate suit, the latest style,
exact rules of etiquette only too often
must cover the inward rottenness of
our modern "Whited sepulchres.' In
some circles the degree of education
and civilization is measured by the
amount Of soap used and by the sheen
of the stand-up collar.
Without Christian morality, instead
of chastity, healthy sensuality'' is
practiced, that is, the foulest sin, as
long as it does not hurt ones health;
instead of conjugal fidelity, free
love-" in plain language, adultery; in,
stead of true art our shameless, mod
ern degradation of art; instead of hui
mility and modesty the morality of
Nietzsche's "super-man."
According to Nietzsche Ct 1900
culture arises if the physically strong
er ("the blond beast of primeval
ages" "the grandly rowing beast of
prey') suppresses and offers violence
to the weaker. Whatever furthers this
"lordly might" is good noble, dignified;
whatever binders or limits it, is bad,
low, mean. That is the famous Her
renmoral '-lord-morality. According
to Nietzsche the Jewish-Christian NOR
atty is. "slave-morality;" for it calls
good and noble, for example, humility
love of neighbor, mercy, mildness
patience-all of which is, according
to Nietzsche, only servile lowness and
degeneration of the grand, blond
beast" (Cf. Simmer aus Maria Laach
vol. As, p. 24O).
Once a righteous" rich man told
me. lie WOIhluS CLASS Is HoInlhS
but a chewing, digesting mass, which
must be crushed under foot to fur
Their the progress of civilization and
culture" A very civilizing principle
indeed!
The lower classes, that have no re
ligion and that wear no cuffs, need
not this veneer of education; 'the
blond, rowing beast" will show itself
as soon as possible, and the best pc
lice force will not be able to turn this
beast into a man. Only religion car
do that; the history of Christianity
has proved it.
(Cf. Cathrein, Religion und Moral
Religion and Morality)