The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-08-30

On, 3. Alter SeNeFdl inohtho 49,
eruption of Popular Apologetlcs, II
start the third part against Protes-
fantism. The two preceding parts
we're directed against Infidelity ana
Rationalism-J. W..
+. CHURCH AND DENOMINATION.
|. Undenominational.
Fobiection: Denominations are
boundaries set up by men. ! belong
to Christianity in general, put 10 no
particular denomination or sect.
Answer: y If there is a Church
founded by Christ, therefore by Goa,
then everyone must belong to that
Church or denomination, If you Will.
That there is but one church Will be
shown in a future article. OF course
the denomination differing from this
one Church is certainly boundaries
set ND by men," and not by COD.
Therefore we should not join Them,
but the one true Church.
'2) christianity in general" with.
out a specific denomination or con-
fession, is a. standpoint full of confus-
ion. an impossible standpoint. one
would have either to accept all the
contradictory doctrines Re. g., on the
Sacraments, Holy Scripture and Ira
dition etcD which is an
evident contradiction or one
would have to reject the one side and
accept the other, and thus one puts
Mt of Hpn0m1-
nation, or nndlly' one h"o
to reject Tor doubt all the differ
ences. one dogma or doctrine after the
other. and thus keep of Christianity
only the name, a kind of general ma
tural religion. This Harnack, the
great Berlin professor, calls the es-
sence of Christianity, which is not
essentially different from the religion
of the Indian who prays to the Great
Spirit" like Harnack prays to the
Father"
If Catholics, at least those who
know their religion, repeat the phrase
of indifferentism: 1T makes no differ
ence what a man believes" in ninety
nine cases out of a hundred there is
a mixed marriage or some other
worldly motive, which does not admit
q firm and decisive profession of faith.
This phrase is not the product of rea-
son or conscience.
2. Denominations Quarrels.
Objection. We should quit these
detestable denominationaI quarrels.
Answer: u We certainly should
avoid ignoble and dishonest quarrels;
we should not be accused of things
that have been refuted hundred
times, e. G., alteration of the Blessed
Virgin: they should also stop their
proselytizing, often with all kinds OF
means of doubtful honesty.
There can be no reasonable objec
ton to honest dissent and honest
polemtcs; simply to pick quarrel
not to defend the truth, would show
that one does not care for the truth
Such one is an indifferentist anc
cannot lay claim to intellectual nobil
ity. AS long as truth and charity are
not knowingly hurt there is no reason
to talk of "detestable denominations
quarrels."
p There are controversies also il
other departments; in POLITICAL social
and scientific branches. Why theT
should there be no honest controv
ersy in the most important of all, il
the religious question? If the infide
and indifferentist does not like this
we do not like it either that they
despise and mock at our hottest anC
highest treasures. They cannot rea
sonably ask us to be silent and not tt
defend our honest convictions.
81 Just as we, SO also believing
Protestants, without denominations
hatred, claim the right to defend theil
faith. In review of the Catholic con
vention of Osnabrueck the Protestan
Kruezzeitung (1902, No. 409) says
ct is self-evident that we will mo-
desist from a defense however much
the Catholics may wish it. That the
Catholics defend themselves bravely
against their Christian opponents
that they stand faithfully by theil
Church, who would blame them for i
or deny them this right? We only
wish that the Evangelicals would
blame them for it or deny them this
right. We only wish that the Evan
gelicals would stand so united b!
their church and so ready"