Professed Protestantism Assisting Rome
By C. M. S.
The American Federation of Catholic Societies
Professed Protestantism Assisting Rome to Attain Her Ends in America
IN the two previous articles reporting the work done and declarations made at this convention it was shown that the Catholic Church has abated no whit in her intention to make America Catholic, that she is molding and controlling legislation in this country, in its dependencies, and in Cuba, with the one object of advancing the interests of that church in opposition to the will of the people, and that she is fostering the growth of the Federation with the idea of making it an effective weapon in the accomplishment of her purpose. But she is not required to depend exclusively upon avowed Catholic support. Professed Protestantism, with its lack of harmony and with its blindness to Rome’s purposes, is doing much to make Rome’s victory easy. The Federation is bound by prejudice, by unquestioning loyalty, and by avowed declaration, to move as one man in support of any proposition or purpose which the head of the Catholic hierarchy may declare for. With such a united organization as that in the field, and with Protestantism refusing to believe there is any menace in the situation, the outlook becomes darker with each new day. Because Protestantism has been falling away from the sure foundation on which it was built,—the Bible, and the Bible only,—and because so many professed Protestants have taken up the work of dissecting and casting discredit upon the Bible, Rome has come out now as the8champion of the Bible, and through that course is winning to herself many who would otherwise have remained in the Protestant fold. By taking that position, Protestantism has weakened itself and strengthened Catholicism. What Rome has accomplished in checkmating Protestantism by this move was illustrated by the following editorial, clipped from the Louisville Herald of Aug. 21, 1912:— Possibly the phase of the convention that has appealed to us most strongly is the courageous faith with which the representatives of Catholicism grapple the live-wire problems of the hour, and declare their confidence that the teaching of their church is all-sufficient to furnish a thorough and satisfying solution. This attitude invites trust, and assuredly wins admiration. The note of certainty in an age of doubt is sufficiently unusual to ring with a striking clearness over all other sounds. It is the biggest thing about the creed of these men that they believe in it,—that they believe in it as a dynamic, and not merely as a dogma. If we may be allowed to trespass diffidently upon dangerous ground, we would venture the opinion that it is just here Protestantism fails. The world misses the splendid assurance, the serene reliance, and the courageous faith that challenge skepticism, materialism, and ungodliness through the voice of the Catholic Church. Such editorials, and the facts which make them possible, are greatly strengthening the propaganda of Romanism in America. A note of certainty in this age of doubt is just what many conscientious Christians are seeking, and they are not hearing it from the majority of the pulpits of the fashionable Protestant churches to-day. Another way in which Rome is receiving help from outside her fold is through testimonials from non-Catholics as to her worth, and the work she is doing in various directions. This also was brought out at this convention in the report of the president of the organization. One such testimonial reads:— Dr. Hamilton, president of Tufts College, a non-Catholic New England institution, said: “Men who believe in law and order must learn to work with the Roman Catholic Church and the American Federation if they would save the republic.” A Protestant Episcopal clergyman was also quoted by the president as strongly indorsing the work of the Catholic Church among the Indians. If such men understood—and it ought to be plainly apparent—that every move made by that church in any department of her activities is made for the glorification of the church, they would not offer such full-some praise. This convention was largely attended by persons of Protestant affiliation and profession, whose presence and whose conduct strengthened the cause of Romanism. During the celebration of “mass,” which was conducted by the Pope’s special representative, these persons took part. The press report says:— The bull of Pope Pius X, granting to his legate the power to confer upon all those at the mass the apostolic benediction, was read at the close of the mass, and then as all knelt, Archbishop Bonzano blessed them with the triple cross of the Holy Father. A fact which was remarked upon by many of the visiting bishops was that practically the entire congregation, including hundreds of non-Catholics and many prominent members of Protestant churches, knelt to receive the blessing, as well as participated in the whole service. These professed Protestants should have understood that in taking part in such a service they were recognizing as of divine appointment the idolatry for which that service stands, and that in bowing to receive such a blessing they were recognizing as legitimate and true the claims which the Roman Church makes in reference to the efficacy of that service in the salvation of souls, and in reference to the authority and ability of the Pope to bless as God blesses. By so doing they strengthened the claims of Rome in the eyes of all present who were not fully established in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The president of the Louisville Purity League, who is a non-Catholic, was profuse in his praise of the Catholic Church for its work along certain lines in which he was interested. President Feeney declared that “it is gratifying to note that non-Catholics are becoming profuse in their praises on the church’s stand against an evil that is sapping at the very life of the nation.” President Taft and Hon. Champ Clark were also quoted as strongly recommending the Catholic Church’s attitude in certain lines. There can be no question that the full-some praise given the Roman Church by those professing to belong to Protestant denominations is having its effect, both in winning adherents to the Roman Church and in helping that church to achieve its political ambition in this country. By taking the attitude which she has taken against socialism, the church expects to win many to her standard who have hitherto been in the Protestant fold. That she is opposed to socialism on principle, there can be no doubt, for the two movements have practically nothing in common. There are many Protestants who believe that socialism is a great and growing menace to stable and equitable government. They see it winning in many lands, and at the same time they hear the Roman Church making emphatic declarations that she is the only power which can cope with that movement. On the strength of what she professes to be able to do against socialism, Rome expects great additions to her fold from non-Catholic faiths. Through the president of the Federation, Rome, at this convention, made an earnest plea to non-Catholics to join her in an effort to combat socialism. With Rome inviting Protestants to join her in fighting socialism, and with professed Protestants inviting Rome to join them in enacting and enforcing Sunday laws, it would seem that the world will not have to wait long for some basis of union which will put Rome in the saddle as the leader of the religious world. At this convention there was no secret made of the fact that Rome is interested in the enforcement of Sunday laws. One of the declared aims of this Federation was “for the proper observance of Sunday.” One of the resolutions passed by the Federation at this session reads:— Upon the basis of Pope Leo’s encyclical on labor we express our sympathy with every legitimate effort to obtain the total abolition of all unnecessary Sunday work. In the interests of the working man’s physical and spiritual welfare, we deprecate his constant employment on the seven days of the week, and we appeal to all our citizens to further any movement toward the abolition of unnecessary labor on the Lord’s day. Secretary Matre had the following paragraph in his report in reference to Sunday observance:— Our societies in many localities are urging for a more rigid Sunday observance, and have encouraged the movement for the post-office closing on Sunday. They are also opposing the holding of political rallies on the Lord’s day. The Boston archdiocesan Federation has recently passed a resolution to introduce in the next Massachusetts Legislature a bill requesting the closing of liquor establishments on Good Friday. It is very logical that having entered determinedly upon the matter of legislating on religious questions, Rome should follow her Sunday-law activities with efforts to make other religious practises of her church matters of legal compulsion. We have predicted for years that this would be the result of Sunday-law agitation, and we see its beginning now. The declarations made in this convention leave no room for doubt of Rome’s determined purpose concerning America. She is equally interested in making England and her dependencies dominantly Catholic. It will be interesting to Protestants to know why she is so greatly interested in the future of these countries. In the Missionary (Catholic) for May, 1910, a Catholic editor tells the reason, as follows:— The main support of Protestantism comes from the United States and England. The millions subscribed in these two countries keep Protestantism alive. So far as converting the heathen to Christianity is concerned, it is true that the Protestant missionaries accomplish nothing, but they do interfere with and retard the work of our missionaries, and they sow the seeds of discord, strife, and irreligion in Catholic countries. If we put an end to this effort in England and the United States by making these nations dominantly Catholic, we shall have removed the chief obstacle to the conversion of the whole world to the true faith. . . . A vigorous effort in the United States at this time will reduce the opposition to an insignificant condition. . . . In the course of another century, the Protestant sects will be a study for the historian and the antiquarian, along with Arianism. Rome is following a logical purpose, and with Protestantism asleep or in doubt as to the danger of her designs, there seems but one possible result of the campaign. That result is well depicted in the book of Revelation,—Rome triumphant for a time over all but a small company, and then the terrible punishment from the Almighty that will be visited upon her.9C. M. S.