The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-28

When Moses received from God the
ten commandments the human race
was already several thousand years
old. Did they not sin when they VIC
lated the rules that were given only
later?
Most certainly they did. The ten
commandments are based upon the
laws of nature, and people living be-
fore Moses could know these laws by
reason, with the possible exception OF
the one that sets aside the Sabbath
dav as a day of rest. Even this law
could have been known, because ira
dition taught that the Creator had
sanctified the seventh day. b. ex-
plicitly giving the ten commandments
God only emphasized the things to be
done or avoided, and impressed most
solemnly upon the world their OBJ
servance.
Has there ever been found tribe
of people without religion?
No. At times superficial explorers
have brought reports of such people,
hut in every case thorough investi
cation proved that their theories we're
incorrect.
Has not the Church at all times
sided with despots against the COM
mon people?
Dcspotism was at one time the ordi-
nary form of government in almost all
countries. BY despot was understood
an absolute monarch in whose land
the people took no part. in the govern
ment by their vote, The Church can
flourish under any government, and
always upholds the just government
of the respective country. Naturally
she stood by the despotic govern.
ments, so long as the rulers were just.
She never upheld king and monarchs
when these oppressed the just rights
OF the people, on the contrary, 1t hap
pened time and again that such
rulers were deposed because of her
influence, as she absolved the people
from their allegiance to such ruler
and put all his upholders under inter-
dict. In the great struggles for liber-
", the Church at all times sided with
the people.
There was a recent marriage of a
Catholic girl, that took place in her
home. was discussing the matter
with a non-Cathclic lady, and said
to her: "WeII, | do not know, unless
the money talked" The non-catholie
said: "Mayhe he is under instruc-
tons" Was it wrong for me to talk
that way?
1t most certainly was wrong and
sinful. Consider in what grave nat
tiers you accuse the priest, and through
him, the Bishop and the Church. You
accuse him of selling the Sacramento
for money: this is simony, most
grave sin, and one carrying very
serious consequences for the offend,
ing priest; you accuse the Bishop OF
1raficking in dispensations and thus
prostituting his Office to wealth; Xnll
accuse the Church of discriminating
against the poor in favor of the rich.
You were certainly guilty of calumny,
Observation-Disclosures, and rash judgment.
And you gave grave scandal to your
non-Catholic friend. What shame
that she should have defended the
Church against the insult of one of the
children of the Church! The only
bearing of money in this matter is
that lack of it~-real DoVerty-is a rea-
son for obtaining a dispensation.
Does the use Of Vestrnents in Divine
services have any Biblical backing?
The Old Testament lays down with
great distinction the type OF vest
ments to be used by the priesthood of
the Old Law. 1t was perfectly natural,
therefore, that the priesthood of the
New Law should take up the use of
special vestments. The vestments
used are a development from the
clothes Of the Greek and Roman citi-
zenry. In the earlier days of the
Church, the priests used better clothes
during the services than they did on
the street, but did not use special vest
merts. However, it adds to the dig
nifty of Divine services to have special
yestments, and it is impossible to hold
that this is anything but pleasing TO
God, in light of His revelations to
the Jews regarding sacred clothing.
The twenty-eighth chapter of Exodus
gives detailed explanation about the
type of vestments God wished Aaron
and the latter's sons to use.
It should not surprise us that the
Catholic Church only gradually began
the uEe of special vestments. Remem-
Der that for many years the faithful
were very poor and were compelled to
worship under persecution, when it
was not possible to develop the out
ward form of worship to the beautiful
position it has held in the later ages.
Even today, you will find the Church
in missionary sections compelled to
mse very much poorer vestments than
i'm the Cathedrals.
Since God has given the command
"Thou shalt not kill" how can capital
punishment be upheld?
Ii you turn to Leviticus, chapter Xxx,
vou will find that the same God Who
prohibited murder outlined a number