The Washington times., 1921-03-24

rigntS OF the people ana pIaCe ntT
breast as a wall OF brass against the
encroachments OF their rulers.
'"The assertion that Catholics are
for bidden to read the Bible is absurd
The clergy are bound to read the
Bible every day for one hour. What
is good for the clergy must be coed
also for the laity. Be assured that
II you become a Catholic you will
never be forbidden to read the Bible
you might as well shut out the
light of day and the air OF Heaven
from your daily walk as exclude the
Pope from his legitimate sphere in
the hierarchy OF the church. The
history of the United States with
the Presidents left out would be
more Ineligible than the history OF
the church to the exclusion of the
Vicar of Christ. How, i ask, could
such authority endure so long IL II
were usurpation?
THE greatest evil OF our times Is
tho unhappy division existing among
tho professors of Christianity, and
from thousands of hearts a yearning
union Of churches.
81 heartily join in the prayer for
Christian unity and gladly would
surrender my life 70 rsuch consum-
nation.
Let us pray that the day may be
hastened when religious dissensions
will cease, when all Christians will
advance with unined front. under
one common leader. to plant the
cross in every region and win new
Kingdoms to Jesus Christ.
INFALLIBILFTY DOCTRINE.
What is the real doctrine of the In
fallibility OF the Pope? 1t simply
means the Pope, as successor Of St
Peter prince OF the Apostles. by vir.
tue Of the promises of Jesus Christ
is preserved from of Judgment
when he promulgates to the church a
decision on faith or morals. The
Pope, therefore. Is not the maker OF
the divine law: he is only the ex-
FOUNDER. He is not the author OF
divine revelation, only it's interpreter
In a word. the Sovereign Pontiff 10 to
the church. though in a more eminent
degree, what the Chief Justice is to
the United States
Rome is to Catholic Christendom
what Washington is to the United
States. AS the citizens of Washing
ton have no power, without the con-
currence OF the United States, to an
mex their city to Maryland or Vir,
ginia, neither can the citizens OF Rome
hand over their city to the Kingdom
of Piedmont without the acquiescence
OF the faithful dispersed throughout
the world.
1--WE protest. therefore. against the
occupation OF Rome by foreign troops
as a high-handed act OF injustice, and
a gross violation OF the Command
ment. Thou shalt not steal.
outrage, calculated to shock the pub
lie sense OF honesty, and to weaker
the sacred right Of public and private
property.
PROTEST VIOLATION.
I'VE protest against II as a unjus
Unable violation OF solemn treaties.
I'VE protest, in fine. against th'
spoliation as an impious sacrilege
because II is an unholy seizure o
| ecclesiastical property, and an at
tempt, so far a. human agencies cal
accomplish II, to trammel and embar
rass the free action OF the head OF tn,
church.
"Tbe conflict between church anc
state has never died out because th'
church has felt 1t to be her duty. il
every age, to raise her voice, agains
the despotic and arbitrary measure:
OF princes.
"There is a sword more keen thar
the executioners knife. 1t is thu
envenomed tongue OF obloquy anc
abuse. There is banishment les.
tolerable than exile from ones coun
try. 1t is the accommodation from
the paternal roof and from the affec
tions OF those we love"
II heartily pray that religious in
tolerance may never take root in oul
favored land. May the only king
to force our conscience be the King
of Kings: may the only prison erect
ed among us for the sins Of unbeliei
or misbelief be the prison OF q
troubled conscience. and may our
only motive for embracing truth be
not the fear OF man. but the love oi
truth and Of God"
Marriage is the most inviolabls
and irrevocable OF all contracts that
were ever formed. Every human
compact may be lawfully dissolved
but this"
While -Our Christian Heritage
was written by Cardinal Gibbons tc
present, as he said himself. variety
OF subjects which he considers e
vital consequence to all men who
take a serious view of the solemn
duties and of the sublime destiny ci
human HE, The Falth OF Oul
Fathers" was written to present in a
plain and practical form an exposi
tion and vindication of the principal
tenets Of the Catholic Church. Ir
writing the book in 1876, the Car
dinal, then Bishop Gibbons. thought
II sufficient to devote but a briei
space to such Catholic doctrines and
practices as arc admitted by Pro.es.
tants, while those that are contro
verted by them are more deliberately
elucidated.
The Faith OF Our Fathers" sub
stantially embodies the instructions
and discourses delivered by the Car
dinal before mixed congregations in
Virginia and North Carolina. About
1000, 900 copies OF the book have
been sold, and II has been dedicated
to the clergy and laity OF the Arch
diocese of Baltimore. Our Christian
Heritage" is dedicated to the mem
ory of Archbishop John Carroll, the
patriarch of the American Church
and to the prelates and clergy of
the United States on the occasion OF