The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-01
POPULAR APOL0GET|Cs
Adapted from the German of Rev
Peter Mikes, S. j., by Rev.
James Watcher.
PART w. TEACHING AUTHORITY
AND HOLY SCRIPTURE.
Protestant independence and
Catholic Minority.

Objection: The Protestant is free
In matters of faith and not bound to
any human authority; the Catholic,
however, is bound to authority. The
Protestant is a seIf-reIiant man who
freely investigates the truth; the Cath
Ollie is minor child who is not al.
lowed to think for himself.
Answer: /. Long before Prot
estantism could speak and became of
age great Catholic men and savants
thought, thought sharply, and had
written whole libraries.
We are even today used to think,
to prove our faith from reason and to
establish apologetics logically, whilst
Professionalism banishes religion from
the realm of reason to that of mere
sentiment.
2. AS far as thinking is concerned
let us make trial. We Catholics
think: In matters of faith man is not
free, but is bound by the institution of
Christ. But Christ has instituted a
teaching authority and promised to
keep it from error. Hence man is
bound to obey this teaching authority.
1t seems to me this process of
thought is not that of child but that
of a man. 1t gives food for thought.
8. Freedom is fine thing, espe-
cially freedom from error; but to free
oneself from the authority established
by God is not fine; this freedom leads
to the labyrinth of error.
Independence is praiSeWorthy, but
not if we mean disobedience by it.
Then 1.-THE independence of man" does
no longer impress Him Who said:
Unless you be converted and become
as little child, you shall not enter
the kingdom of heaven" (Matth.
1879.
The Catholic should be both: a
child and man; he should be like
a child towards the ecclesiastical au-
thority established by Christ and like
a man in his disposition and deed.
He has manly conviction of the truth
of his faith and the certainty that
Christ leads and guides him through
His Church. From this standpoint
the educated Catholic and theologian
investigates without danger or fear
the realm of the truth of his faith.
He does not envy the free investiga-
s. ton, which without plan or guidance
Investigates in all directions of the
wind Except in the direction of Rome)
and chases the rainbows of it's own
imaginations and ends only too often
in indifference and infidelity, for the
supernatural of Christianity has gen.
orally been lost by these investigators.
4. 1t is said: "Protestants are In,
dependent men," But what about
their women and children and those
who cannot investigate independently?
What per cent can read the Bible in
the original languages and answer all
the questions about it which their
liberal professors bring up? Less
than one per cent. And the rest must
necessarily depend in matters of faith
on human authority (parents, teach.
ers, preachers, professors), and &C
cording as these are orthodox or lib.
eral SO they differ widely. That is the
much praised independence of free
Investigation!
The Catholic, however, does not de-
pend on human authority but on the
divine authority established by Christ
In His Church. THE truth shall make
you free" John S:32), for where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
e Cor. $40.