Newspaper Page Text
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
5.
THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
BY THE BISHOP OF SAVANNAH.
Quite recently during a campaign in Atlanta when
the question of having the Bible read in the public
schools was voted on, a number of very erroneous
and very foolish statements were made regarding the
attitude of Catholics and the Catholic Church towards
the Bible. Though the Laymen’s Association has al
ready published a little work on this question, I do
not think it will be amiss to say a word about it in
The Bulletin.
Our viewpoint about the relations between us and
our Protestant neighbor has always been that if they
understood exactly what we believe and teach, these
relations would be much better. The truth is that
they do not come to us for information, but ask
those who are opposed to us. To correct their wrong
impression, then, we must go to them with our side
of the matter.
Now, I think that the vast majority of Protestants
have at least these two ideas firmly fixed in their
minds:
1. Catholics are not permitted by the Catholic
Church to read the Bible.
2. Protestantism practically discovered the Bible
and gave it to the world.
Now, before giving an answer to these statements
I think it would be well to state clearly what every
Catholic is bound to believe about the Bible.
The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is the
inspired word of God; that very properly and cor
rectly God is called and is the Author of it, for the
men who wrote it, did so under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit.
Now let me take up each statement.
The first is: Catholics are not permitted by the
Church to read the Bible.
I answer that this statement is not true. My denial
ought to be enough, but I will give proofs. Here is
an extract from a letter sent in 1884 to all the
Catholics of the United States and signed by every
Catholic Bishop in the United States:
“It can hardly be necessary for us to remind you
that the most highly valued treasure of every family
library and the most frequently and lovingly made
use of should be the Holy Scripture. You have be
fore your eyes prefixed to the Douay version of the
Holy Bible the exhortation of Pius VI, to the Arch
bishop of Florence that the faithful should be moved
to the reading of the Holy Scriptures; for these are
most abundant sources which ought to be left open
for every one to draw from their purity of morals
and of doctrine to eradicate the errors which are so
widely disseminated in these corrupt times; St. Paul
declares that what things soever were written, were
written for our learning; that through patience and
the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope
(Rom. XV-4). We hope that no family can be
(Continued on Page Ten)
WHAT THE DEVIL LIKES BEST.
Once upon a time, the devil held an anniversary
meeting and called upon his princes to report what
they had done on earth to hinder the Kingdom of
Christ.
One emissary said he had turned loose some wild
beasts, who destroyed some missionaries. The chief
of devils said “That’s nothing; you can’t hurt a Chris
tian by killing him.’’
Another one reported that he had wrecked a ship,
and many Christians were drowned. The devil said,
“You have done nothing. You can kill a Christian,
but his influence still lives.’’
The third reported that he had set fire to a large
church, which became a total wreck. “They will re
build, and be stronger than ever,’’ said the chief.
The fourth one, with great pride, said that he got
two different denominations into a quarrel. The
devil clapped his hands for joy and said: “You have
done more than the others combined. That is the
best way to hinder the progress of the Kingdom of
Christ on earth.’’ Exchange.
COVINGTON “FREEZES” ANTI-
CATHOLIC SPEAKER.
Covington, Ky.—When Mayor Thomas Donnelly
was asked recently to rent the public library hall to
a man named Jackson to give an anti-Catholic lec
ture to “expose the awful condition prevailing at the
home of the Good Shepherd nuns,’* he called in Louis
Phillips, probation officer, a Mason, and inquired
about the institution. Phillips, who is a member of
the Junior Order, said he could not speak in high
enough terms of the home; Jackson was refused the
library hall, and also the Masonic, Moose and Eagle
halls. Mayor Donnelly then got into communication
with the mayor of Newport, who declared that he
would be ready for Jackson when the latter appeared
there.—The Catholic Bulletin (Cleveland) Aprjl 16,
1920.
I
During January it is the intention of the State
officers to visit the cities of Columbus and Athens to
report to the laymen therein the work of the past
year. Officers of the Association are asked to see
that all Catholics get due notice of the meeting. Dur
ing February visits will be made to the mission towns
of Central Georgia and in February South Georgia
will be covered.
Every member of the Catholic Laymen’s Associa
tion is entitled to a copy of The Bulletin each month.
Officers of the auxiliary associations are asked to see
that the publicity department, Room 409 Herald
Building, is notified whenever any member fails to
receive his or her copy. Others desiring The Bulletin
can secure it by sending $2.00 for a year’s subscrip
tion to the above address.