The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-05-28

the article which inquiries What Dsturbs Protest
ants about Catholics?" there sentence we'll
calculated to add 10 the general disturbance Just
eighteen lines from the beginning of the essay,
after wellmeant but mistaken statement that 'the
great bulk of Roman Catholic teaching and preach
ing is common" with non-Catholic teaching and
preaching occurs the sentence mean: Protest
ants also believe however, that Catholic teachings
have become associated down the centuries with
number of dogmas ideas and practices which are
neither true Christian"
In other words Catholics have gone wrong.
Theirs is not now it was, the true religion.
Therefore for a Catholic the whole discussion is
finished If his religion is not the true religion, he
is not surprised TO find that he disturbs Protestants,
nor concerned to stop disturbing them He is merely
phoney seeking notice publicity, and. of course,
disturbance is what he feeds But if the Protest
ant in turn is not secure in his that he
possesses the one true religion then he is phoney
too, and ought to be disturbed In this case, there
is neither rhyme nor reason in the current discus
sion in Look Just couple of mixed-up parties each
(as Arnold Lunn quotes somebody as saylng) trying
to interest people in its own particular brand OF
error.
The Catholic is the only person bearing the name
of Christian who actually takes the word and actions
of Christ into account. The Catholic reads IN Gods
word that Christ is God that Christ founded one
Church. that Christ gave this Church the mission OF
teaching and spiritually directing all men; that
Christ impaired to this Church His voice and
authority; that Christ promised TO abide with this
one Church TO the end of time. And therefore the
Catholic knows that. down the centuries there may
be many unworthy Catholics, there may arise local
practices alien to the will and teaching of the Church.
but the Catholic also knows that there cannot-on
Christs own word-arise in the Church itself ideas
and practices which are neither true Christian
How the Church 90 wrong If Christ IS with II as
He promised how Peter feed the flock poison
H. fzALN NFawsf ~
truth?
The sentence quoted bogs down discussion for
another II is expressed In terms that, how
ever familiar are nevertheless vague and foggy.
Just what does the writer of the Look article mean
by ideas, dogmas and practices" What is suggested
TO the modern mind by the word dogma? Does man
OF our times consider the teachings Of history as
dogmas? Does he consider the formulas of labora
tories dogmas? Is the discovery of America, as
recorded in the books dogma? Is the theory OF the
atomic and subatomc structure of matter dogma
Yes of course; these things are dogmas. But does
modern person ever think Of calling them by that
name?
standard Greek dictionary defines the Greek
word dogma as, Il. that which one thinks true; an
opinion. 2 a resolution decree" And from the sec
ond meaning of this word comes the Greek dogndttzo
(our dogmatize) which means ito lay down decree"
Both the noun and the verb here considered derive
from the root-verb dokeo which, in its primary mean
ing signifies Ito think TO suppose"
The facts of established history are things which
We have good and sufficient to think true;
therefore, they are dogmas. The theories of science
which deal with the Sub-mcroscopic world world
that cannot be Immediately seen or handled are
dogmas for they things we have good reason
10 think true And the DEGREES of our civil laws
are dogmas, because they are reasonable and au-
thoritative ordinances But does anyone nowadays
think of calling these things by the Of dogds?
No; the word dogma has taken on, through mis-
use, an ugly meaning wholly alien to its original
sgnification Maybe the word acquired this evil
meaning from the catch-phraslng of old religious
arguments. AT all events, the current meaning of
dogma in nonCathoc ears is harsh and un-
beieyable thing, without show OF reason, which a
person is compelled to accept as truth or to obey
as tyrannous decree. Thus understood, and the
word is thus understood by millions of modern men,
"a dogma as such is detestable; il is outrageous
imposition mind or will or both; IL Is oppression 1t
is enslayement; il is its condemnation admitting
explanation or Justification Call a thing dogma
today and you blast il out of the realm of things
fit for human consideration
But Catholic uses the word dogma in its old,
useful, and legitimate sense. To him 1t Is either
teaching of the Church which Christ established to
teach truth or it is a decree in the realm of morals
lalu GOWN Dy the NnuECn WHICH AHIiSl sent I'd give
men spiritual guidance and to govern them in
the way to heaven. Thus, to Catholic, sentence
like the quoted here, in the first paragraph
of this column, is silly and even meaningless.
To say tifM Catholic teachings have become 'as-
sociated with number of dogmas" is to say that
Catholic teachings have become associated with
number of teachings A teaching Is necessarily dog
matte teacher is who gives out what he thinks
10 be true. But the teachings of the Church founded
by Christ cannot become associated" in any sig
nifcant manner with alien teachings otherwise
the word of the Goodman is falsified; and this is a
manifest impossiblty.
The Catholic is not a mere stubborn man who
refuses to give ground any point, and rebuffS
the efforts OF his Protestant neighbor who is will
ing to make concessions and compromises. For the
Catholics belief is not his own, but what God has
given him 10 believe he is not competent to alter
his beliefs by adding subtraeting, modifying Ca
tholieity and Professionalism can more be drawn
into common body of belief than oil and water
be mingled into common substance.
Religion points TO the only real issues of human
existence In last analysis nothing else matters than
having the truth and living according to it, and so