The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-12

The following address was delivered
by Rt. Rev. John P. Carroll. D. d.,
Bishop of Helena, Montana, in the
Cathedral of Seattle, Washington, Sun
day evening, March %, 1919.
President Wilson has repeatedly
stated that the Great War was fought,
not TO strengthen any of the govern
ments of the world, but to make Tree
the peoples of the world-that its aim
was to make the world safe for de-
mocracy. He has also stated that self
determination for all nations, great
and small alike. should be granted by
the Peace Conference and guaranteed
by a League Of Nations. The ideals
of the President have been accepted
by the Allies and the Central Powers,
and all signs point to the establish
ment OF democracy throughout the
world.
The question has been asked, How
will the Catholic Church fare in the
new world democracy" Some say
the Catholic Church is the only re-
manning autocratic religion il the
world, and that she is sure to disap-
pear in the great cataclysm which is
overwhelming all the autocratic gov
ernments of the world.
This argument contains two state
ments: First. the Catholic Church is
an autocracy: second, the Catholic
Church cannot live or thrive in a
1ir,n hoy
Church and Autocracy.
|. Is the Catholic Church an auto
cratic religion? Autocracy, according
to Webster, is independent, or self
derived power. An autOcratic religion,
therefore, is one that derives its
power from itself, that is dependent
on no source outside itself for its au-
thority and the exercise thereof. Does
the Cathofic Church Esquare w1rff TINS
definition?
Let us look at the things that stand
out most prominently in the Catholic
Church-her constitution, her mission
her doctrine, her morality. These are
certainly not self-derived. They were
given to her by Jesus Christ, her Di
vine Founder. 1t was He who said tC
Peter, and through him, to his success
sOrs. the Popes Of Christendom: "Thou
art Peter, and upon this rock | vii
build my church, and the gates o1
hell shah not prevail against it. AnC
l will give thee the Keys of the King
dom of Heaven. Whatsoever thot
shalt bind upon earth, shall be bounC
also in Heaven, and whatsoever thOl
shalt loose upon earth shall be lOoset
also in Heaven l have prayed
for thee that thy faith fail not, anC
thou being once converted confirm thy
brethren Feed my lambs, feeC
my sheep" 1t was also Christ WHO
said to the Apostles and, through
them, to their successors, the Bishops
of the Church: 60 ye into the whole
world, and preach the gosepl to every
creature Going therefore teacl
ye all nations, teaching them to OBJ
serve all things whatsoever I have
commanded you; and behold, | an
with you all days even to the consum
nation of the world AS tht
Father hath sent me I also send you
He that heareth you hearetl
me, and he that despiseth you despis
eth me- And he that despiseth M
despiseth Him that sent me- Th'
constitution, mission, doctrine, ant
morality of the Church outlined il
these words, are therefore not self
derived. They are divine. They COM
to the Church from God through Jesu
Christ, His divine Son.
Let it not be objected that the pee
pie had nothing to do with their max
ing. Religion is essentially from Goo
Man-made religion is a contradictio
in terms. Religion is Gods gift t
the world-a gift by which man ma
be sanctifed here and saved here
after. Who shall say that the recip
ent. and not the giver, has the righ
TO determine the conditions of tn
gift?
Democracy of Church.
But though the constitution, mi!
sion, doctrine, and morality of til
Church are divine in their source, i
their human applications they ar
most democratic. The Founder of tn
Church and the Framer of her const
tuition was, indeed, the Son OF God, bt
to establish His Church among me
He Himself did not disdain to becom
a man, and that the Church migl
never forget its democratic origin II
chose for His mother lowly virgil
for His foster father an humble ca
penter, and for most of His Apostle
poor fishermen The successors {
the Apostles, the Bishops Of H
Church, though appointed for men
the things that appertain to God
have nevertheless been taken frol
among men," oftentimes from the poc
and lowly. Pope Plus x was the SC
of the postmaster of Riesi, Cardin;
Farley OF New York, was the son
a peasant, and the father of the gre,
Archbishop Ireland was carpente
Hear what President Wilson has
say OF the democracy of the Churc