The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-01-26
THE COMPLETE DISAPPEAR
ANCE OF CHRISTIANITY.

1t was foretold in the Scrip
lures that there would be false
Christs and false prophets. This
terrible warning uttered with pro-
phetic vision has been fulfilled in
every age of the Church. The
hereticS of the sixteenth century
struck at the roots Of Christian
ity, and in many places utterly
eradicated true religion. ST. Paul
had warned the Corinthians,
S'Other foundation no man can
lay, but that which is laid; Which
is Christ Jesus. !" The so-called
wisdom, however, of disgruntled
heresiarchs tried to lay other
foundations, which were not
Christ Jesus. The result was that
they built up temples dedicated
to art, music, sociology, ethics,
everything i'll fact excepting
Christianity: and with subtle
mockery they called these tenn
Piles, churches, and the vapid va
porings heard therein were termed
religion.
The Pseudo-Reforners promis-
ed to unshackle the human will
and to allow it to soar in Icarian
flight throughout the vault of
heaven. Like Icarus Of old, the
false pinions soon melted and the
collapse was complete. Liberty of
Interpretation OF Scripture and
the principles Of religion immedi-
ately branded all preachers as a
mockery, as useless e.owths on
the body religious: each man was
to be his own interpreter, his own
judge, his own preacher.
From the day Of the Reforma-
ton Christianity has been grad
ually disintegrating; today the de-
nominations can be said to possess
scarcely the shell Of Christian
principles. Preachers, however
pious and well-meaning they may
be, are afraid to give to their peo-
pie thepure gospel of Jesus Christ.
A casual perusal Of the Monday
morning papers in any large city
today arouses a spirit of pity and
of shame at the thought that
Protestant churches re-echo to
discussions OH every worldly
topic to the exclusion of Chris
tianity. True, charity often is
mentioned: the doctrines of
Christ, however, are ignored as
distasteful to the lovers of free
Interpretation; Christ is held up
before them not as a model or a
teacher, but as a myth or as a
parsonage whose divine attributes
are torn to shreds by infdel
preachers and so-called theo-
logians. It is possible even in the
Church Of England for man to
be a bishop and at the same time
to deny the divinity Of Christ.
Christ was first Of all teacher
Man had wandered from God
through sin, and man must be
taught the way back to God. The
most solemn injunction left by the
Redeemer on the eve of his de.
parture was, "Teach we all ia.
tons -. Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever ]
have commanded you.'' His COS.
pei was the substance of His doc.
trine on various subjects: Pen
ance, Holy Eucharist, sacraments
the commandments, the moral law
He enjoined all His apostles to sc
into the Who'll, world, and
preach the gospel to every crea
ture. "But they going fortf
preached everywhere In order
to win man back to God religion
must use the means mentioned
above as laid down by Christ
This doctrine admits not o
diminution or Of alteration
whatsoever revolteth, and con
tinueth not III the doctrine o
Christ, hath not Cod
St. Paul admonishes the earl,
Christians to avoid all schisns ape
heresies. Il beseech you that YOU
all speak the same thing, and tina
there be no schisms among you. !
True Christianity, therefore, i
mot compatible with a variety O
doctrines; it must represent al
the teachings of Christ, or none
lat all. 1t Is III this sense tina
Pope Benedict XIV insists tina
priests preach Christ and the Cos
pei, by which st. Paul under
stands the cross Of Christ.
The fruits Of the Reformation
have grown to- maturity and have