CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHARITIES by Northwestern Christian Advocate

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 12, 1890

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 18.

CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHARITIES.

By Northwestern Christian Advocate

The Roman Catholic consideration for the poor is proverbial—among those who are never called upon to test it experimentally. The critical examination of its charities would, we are quite confident, reveal that even where the chiefest of graces was supposed to preside there was under the garb the same hard, narrow, bloodless indifference to the real welfare of humanity which characterizes the church in all its ostentatiously benevolent activity. An instance of the undisguised animus has recently come to notice. An aged mother in the church died, and the family were left in only moderate circumstances. The fidelity and liberality of the good woman in her church relations were well established, and yet, because of inability to satisfy sacerdotal rapacity, she was denied the poor privilege of "high" mass, and her family any words of consolation from the appointed ministry. For inquiring readers we quote the schedule: Low mass, $5.00; high, $10; additional consolation, $15. We suppose that family rates, where a sufficiently large number is assured, are subject to a slight discount. If it is said that this is an exceptional case, we have only to reply on good authority and from personal observation that it is a characteristic example of the spirit with which that church's whole system of reputed benevolence is carried on.—Northwestern Christian Advocate.