Protestant Bigotry

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 7, 1907

Protestant Bigotry

In an editorial with the title “Protestant Bigotry” the New World (Catholic) gives vent to its feelings concerning Protestantism in very plain language. The editor says:—

Protestants taken individually are often excellent people, kind neighbors, just in commercial transactions, and loyal friends. But the entire Protestant system is leavened through and through with hatred of the Catholic Church, its ministers, its doctrines, and its practises. Protestantism, as the very name indicates, is nothing but a protest or denial of Catholicism. It has no definite principles of its own. It is like a quicksand, and the only unity that holds it together is an ineradicable hatred of the Catholic Church, its doctrine, ministers, and worship. Therefore the only sound policy for Catholics to follow in all circumstances is, while abhorring the Protestant heresy, to treat their Protestant neighbors with the fullest measure of justice and charity, but to rely boldly and uncompromisingly upon themselves, never to cringe, fawn, or crouch for their civic rights at the feet of those who sit in the masonic seats of the mighty, as Lazarus begged the crumbs that fell from the table of Dives.

From the Catholic standpoint all Protestants are heretics, and the world knows how good Catholics deal with heretics when they are not held in check by the civil authorities. If the spirit of Protestantism was the same now as in the sixteenth century, there would be no disposition to yield the vantage-ground which has been won at such cost, and to restore Catholicism to its old place of power. But the prophecy will be fulfilled, and apostate Protestantism will bear its fruit.