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A Roman Catholic America

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 10.

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A Roman Catholic America

By SANFORD B. HORTON

SANFORD B. HORTON
The Zion’s Herald (Methodist) of Boston thinks that “the time has come for the church as a whole to awaken to the situation” of a militant Catholicism. “Unless all signs fail,” says Zion’s Herald, “the last stand of the Roman Catholic Church for supremacy is to be made in the United States of America.” “All the power of the great organization built up under Hildebrand, and developed throughout the years by his successors, is to be concentrated upon this country.”
Seventh-day Adventists have been calling attention for many years to the encroachments which Rome has been making, and have referred to the spectacular functions of that church as being remarkable evidences of her determination to crowd herself upon the notice of the public. Zion’s Herald, interpreting these events, makes the following comments:—
“This is the explanation of recent events and of announcements that have found their way into public print. The elevation of American prelates is significant. So is the statement that the country is to be divided into eighteen ecclesiastical provinces, or subdivisions, for convenience of administration. These straws all indicate the direction of the blowing of the wind. Rome is determined to conquer in the United States.”
“As a matter of fact, she must. Her power in the Old World is all but gone. France has left her; Portugal has repudiated her; Spain has broken with her; Italy openly defies her. What is there left? Austria?—Yes, but hardly anything else. If Rome is to continue a power, then she must become supreme on this side of the Atlantic. And here in the United States of America is to be made the last stand.”
“Is this simply a fantastic statement?—Not at all. Within a few weeks there has appeared from the press of a leading American publishing house a book written by Abbe Felix Klein, of France. It is called ‘America of To-Morrow.’ In the course of the work the learned French author, already known to the American reading public by his volume ‘In the Land of the Strenuous Life,’ discusses the growth of Roman Catholicism on this side of the Atlantic, and dwells upon the work of the Catholic Extension Society. He concludes by saying:—
“‘With the increase of funds, the power for the good of the young society is rapidly augmenting, and it will not be long before the Church of Rome will have nothing to envy the Protestant churches, as far as their home missions are concerned; and if already, without this means of diffusion, it has developed two or three times as fast as the most prosperous of the Protestant sects, what will now be its progress! It may in a quarter of a century prevail over all the other confessions combined; it may make of the United States, according to the dream that is no longer merely visionary, the first Catholic nation of the world.’”
“There you have it, spoken right out in the open. Here on American soil it would the Roman Catholic Church establish itself in mighty power. It may be making virtue of necessity, as there is nowhere else for Romanism to go. But, be that as it may, the fact is the same.
“Even here do we find a challenge to Protestantism. It means that here on American soil is to be fought to a finish the battle of the Reformation.”
We disclaim all suggestions of bigotry, but, with Zion’s Herald, we feel free to ask Protestants of the United States if they still “believe that our fathers were right in breaking with Rome years ago; if they believe that the doctrines promulgated by Protestantism are the proper interpretation of the Word of God.”
The Roman Catholic Church has challenged the virility of Protestantism in Europe, has challenged the ability of the nations of Europe to keep it out of their civil affairs, and has lost, as the above extracts point out. The church has been trying, through home rule, to subordinate Ireland to her “tender” care, but thus far without success; and now Rome has set her face and heart to the subjugation of the United States of America, and thus challenges the virility of Protestantism in this land, as well as the stability of the government as founded by our forefathers. Not only so, but she has set herself the definite object of capturing the English-speaking world.
Referring to Rome’s plans, Zion’s Herald continues:—
“Do we want a Roman Catholic America? If not, we must be prepared to meet the challenge of the present. We must meet statesmanship with statesmanship.
“One of the most significant steps in connection with the new program that Romanism is enunciating in this country is that of dividing the United States into great subdivisions in order to get adequate leadership. Romanism has always made much of this. In every great center in the country she has her strong men, bishops and archbishops known to all, who are in a position to lead their forces to great victories. It is upon this leadership that the Pope counts to make the United States of America ‘the first Catholic nation of the world.’”
“And now the time has come for us to meet the issue squarely. We are face to face with a situation. Methodism, as perhaps no other church among the Protestant denominations, is fitted, by its aggressiveness, its inheritance, and its natural genius, to meet and resist Roman Catholicism. It must do its full share, and perhaps more, to save this country to Protestant Christianity.”
It should occur to our fellow Protestants in this country who are engaged in revival work, Christian Endeavor work, Men and Religion Forward Movement, and kindred movements, that due attention should be given the matter of the Roman Catholic challenge for supremacy. If Protestantism does not desire to see a return to the old order of things which produced the dark ages, it were well that we awaken to the importance of the situation now menacing this nation and the true principles of Christianity.