The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-02-21

Our Holy Father puts before the
members of the Apostleship for the
month of February a very urgent in
tentiOn. We are to pray that the
faithful may generously discharge the
duty Of supporting the Church. But
they will not do this, unless they first
realize the duty. They must begin to
appreciate the needs of the Church,
and 10 recognize that to supply these
needs is an obligation, not a work of
Suporeroeaton, writes Rev. r. NJ Con-
nelly, S. J.
Church Not a Beggar.
Now a good many Catholics do not
understand this at all. They may
love the Church: they may be devoted
to the parish; they may esteem the
clergy. And then when they put their
hands in their pockets and make a
contribution they do so perhaps out
of friendship for the pastor and often
as a mere work of mercy. In fact,
they call their offering to the Church
an aims, and feel delightfully."- con-
scious of degree of liberality and
benevolence, just as when they help a
beggar at their door The Church is
no beggar. 1t is no object for aims
giving We are no more entitled to
self-congratulation, when we put our
contribution on the plate, than when
We pay our fare on the Street-car.
One is no more an aims than the
other. 1t is no more an aims to sup
port the Church than it is an aims
to pay our taxes to the Government.
The only difference is that the State
imposes our taxes by fixed law and
enforces their payment by penalties;
whereas the Church appeals to us as
a mother, leaves the amount to be
suggested by our own generosity, and
laws down no threats, ii we fair her.
Church Perfect Society.
But the Church has just as much
right to our support as the State has,
if not more. The visible Church on
earth is a perfect society in the same
strict sense as the State. 1t is a
spiritual government. 1t has its
rulers, it's institutions, its manifold
organizations. 1t is administered by
men, not angels. 1t is operated by
the aid of material resources. And
like the State, it depends for these
resources on the contribution OF its
members. For this reason the Church
has the same right as the State to
levy taxes on her subjects. If she
does not do so, if she does not pur-
sue with her cenSureS those who
evade their duty, this does in no way
abrogate our obligations and ought
not to stife our generosity but to
foster it.
Pride in Our Parish.
Certainly the Church makes far less
demand on us than the State. II we
do not begrudge the Government
TWENTY-FIVE million dollars to erect a
single building for administration pur
poses, which was the cost OF the cap
itol of New York State, why should
we feel it an imposition if we are
called on to erect a building worthy
of divine service and for the glory OF
God? If we pay almost one million
dollars for the upkeep of a battleshil
for a single year, why should we moi
nav a suitable quota for the main
tenance of our parish church? If the
ala hnr9 tG
school-building for the instruction o.
the children, why should we not main
tain our parochial schools and our col
3eges for the preservation OF faith ant
purity in our own girls and boys? W.
take a legitimate and patriotic pride
in the public parks and municipal
structures of our native town, because
we feel that it is our money chat ha'
maid for them; similarly we shoult
take pride, and for the same reason
in the church and school and IN nm
equipment of both in the parish Wher
we reside. Yet this is not possible
unless we pay for them, as we pa!
for our civic adornments. Assuredl
we would not admit that we are NOR
loval to the State than to God, o
more Jealous for the dignified admin
istration of civic functions than TO
the worship due to our Dlvln
Saviour.
Law of Justice.
Indeed, the law OF nature write
in our hearts, the dictates of common
natural justice prescribe that W
should assess ourselves according
our means for the support OF tn
Church. We would understand tn
better if we understood better tn
value of the services she renders III
If the clergy and hierarchy give u
their lives to those ministratlons
religion which we make use OF, II tn
administration of the Sacraments an
the many functions fulfilled by tn
Church are in our behalf, if throug
the Church we receive the only tru
consultations of this world and al
prepared for eternal happiness in Il
next, it follows that we are dui