p. 7 | AMERICAN CATHOLICISM by William N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 49.

AMERICAN CATHOLICISM.

By William N. Glenn

BY W. N. GLENN.

The Christian Work, of New York, takes an optimistic view of the Catholic controversy in America. It is sure that the Liberal element, represented by Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop Ireland, and Bishop Keane, will eventually dominate the Conservatives, represented by such men as Archbishop Corrigan and Bishop Wigger. An article on this subject in the issue of November 26, closes with this hopeful expression:—

But whatever may come to pass now, it can not be believed that the party of which Archbishop Ireland and Bishop Keane are the chief exponents can long remain in a subordinate position in the Roman Church in America. They represent the most active, intelligent and progressive element in the Church, the truly American and patriotic element, and as the years go by and foreign immigration falls away, this party must increase in numbers and influence, while the other suffers a decline. Such a result is inevitable; the Church must become Americanized in time through and through in all its policies, methods and forms of government, and not all the power that can be wielded from the Vatican will suffice to stay that onward course.

It is safe to assume, however, that no radical or permanent reformation ever can obtain within the Catholic Church. It is a great religio-political institution, whose foundation is tradition, intrigue, and coercion. Any practical deliverance from its innate tyranny must necessarily be accomplished by coming out of it altogether. Hon. Stanley Matthews well said that to admit one of Rome's dogmas was logically to admit them all. We have many instances on record of Roman priests taking an independent stand for a more liberal policy; but sooner or later they have retracted or have gone out. Under the ban of Rome eventually means disgrace in the church or excommunication from it. The prophecy foretells that all the world is to worship the beast, excepting those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. This must include all who remain in that church, and all who assent to her dogmas, whether in or out of that particular fold. All who receive and persistently adhere to the mark of Rome's authority (and she holds up the Sunday-sabbath institution in that special light) come under the condemnation of the "third angel," who says with a loud voice: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev. 14:9-11.

The next verse shows us the contrasting element: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Then the only reform that God acknowledges is a reform that leads to the keeping of the commandments of God. In the very nature of Rome's constitution, such a reformation can not be consummated within her communion; for she has deliberately set up church authority against the Scriptures of truth. While acknowledging and maintaining that, according to the Scriptures, the seventh day is the only Sabbath, she sets the Sunday institution as the mark of her authority to move independently. She maintains, too (and logically), that all who acknowledge and observe the day so set apart by her authority, thereby assent to her authority in all religious matters, and are virtually bound to accept all her dogmas.

Therefore all professed liberalism in the Catholic Church of America is only calculated to deceive the people with the idea that Rome is changing her attitude, and becoming more in harmony with the spirit of republican government and true Christianity. This false attitude of an influential faction of the Catholic Church in the United States simply encourages the professed Protestantism of the country in its work of developing and maintaining the "image of the beast" and its worship. It is an attitude that is doing much to fasten the grip of Rome upon American institutions, and when this liberal Catholicism will have accomplished its work of deception (whether wittingly or not is no matter), the real principles of the "beast" will have so fully reflected its "image" that the latter will itself speak "as a dragon."