A Catholic Reviewed by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 22, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 40.

A Catholic Reviewed.

By Editor

THE reply to the letter from a Catholic, which will be found in the editorial columns of this paper, is worthy of a careful perusal. We once noticed a sermon by "Father Gavazzi," in which he referred to the Catholics teaching that many tried to climb the ladder at which Christ stood, who fell back and failed, but all succeeded who attempted to climb that where the Virgin Mary stood. A Catholic wrote to us a letter declaring that Gavazzi's statement was a falsehood, and called upon us to recall it, and confess our wrong in giving such a falsehood to the public. We then wrote several articles, proving by authentic Catholic publications that the Romish system is Mariolotry, and not Christianity. And from a book published under the sanction of the church, entitled "The Glories of Mary," we quoted the very words that Father Gavazzi used. We then called upon the writer of the letter to acknowledge his error, and withdraw his accusations against us. This we had a right to do, but we never heard from him again.

The Catholics have so long denied the facts of history and their own literature that they seem to take it for granted that the Protestants ought to be willing to ignore these facts when asked to do so. They must themselves be ignorant on these subjects, or presume largely on the ignorance of all the world besides, to expect that we shall withhold these things from our readers at anybody's request. The papal system never changes. This is their boast, but it is fatal to their claims. If they could only show that they had outgrown the spirit of the dark ages, we might tolerate the system. But the disposition to burn heretics still remains; the power only is wanting.

But we would not have our readers think that human nature is worse in the Catholic Church than in any other. The system gives the opportunity to human nature to develop its worst features. This is why we are opposed to the Religious Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. There is too much unrenewed human nature in the Protestant churches to make it safe to trust them with the same power to enforce their faith by law. We dislike heresy, too; but the highest office which Christ gave to his ministers is that of "ambassadors." 2 Cor. 5:20. When they become executioners, they are guilty of a shameful usurpation. The people will find it safe and prudent to keep this power out of their hands.