How Roman Catholics Regard Protestants.
The New York Independent of January 7 gives, as usual in its first number of the year, a symposium of the churches, with articles from leading men in the various sects. The article on the Roman Catholic Church is by Rev. David S. Phelan, editor of the Western Watchman. In speaking of the removal of Bishop Keane from the Washington University, he takes occasion to say:— “But it is doubtful if he would have been removed if he had not advanced dangerous views on Protestantism. Catholics believe that Protestantism is a damnable heresy, worse than any that has yet arisen in the church. They think it is charity to tell Protestants so; to labor to convince them that it is so; to co-operate in bringing them out of their position of awful danger. If there is anything more uncharitable than another in our intercourse with those of heterodox persuasion, it is teaching them or encouraging them to be content with their present spiritual state. Bishop Keane was the paraclete of American Protestants, and gave them consolation which better theologians considered cruel and unjustifiable. For this he was removed from the headship of an institution which was to train the men who were to lead the thought of the American Catholic Church in years to come.” This is frank, and honest, and consistent. We wish Protestants could be as truly so. Of this we shall have more to say hereafter.