Choose a topic from Vol 2:

God

Proof of God's existence
God's nature
Supreme control over all things and the problem of suffering and evil

Man

Destiny of man
Death
Immortality of man's soul
Pre-existence denied
The human free will
Determinism absurd

Religion

Necessity of religion
Salvation of the soul
Voice of science
Religious racketeers
Divine revelation
Revealed mysteries
Existence of miracles

The Religion of the Bible

Gospels historical
Missing Books of the Bible
The Bible inspired
Biblical account of creation
New Testament problems
Supposed contradictions in Sacred Scripture

The Christian Faith

Source of Christian teaching
Jewish rejection of Christ
Christianity a new religion
Rational foundation for belief
Causes of unbelief

A Definite Christian Faith

Divisions amongst Christians
Schisms unjustified
Facing the problem
The wrong approach
Is one religion as good as another?
Obligation of inquiry
Charity and tolerance

The Protestant Reformation

Meaning of "Protestant"
Causes of the Reformation
Catholic reaction
Reformers mistaken
The idealization of Protestantism
The Catholic estimate

The Truth of Catholicism

Meaning of the word "Church"
Origin of the Church
The Catholic claim
The Roman hierarchy
The Pope
The Petrine text
St. Peter's supremacy
St. Peter in Rome
Temporal power
Infallibility
Unity of the Church
Holiness of the Church
Catholicity of the Church
Apostolicity of the Church
Indefectibility of the Church
Obligation to be a Catholic

The Church and the Bible

Catholic attitude towards the Bible
Is Bible reading forbidden to Catholics?
Protestant Bibles
The Catholic Douay Version
Principle of private interpretation
Need of Tradition
The teaching authority of the Catholic Church

The Dogmas of the Church

Revolt against dogma
Value of a Creed
The divine gift of Faith
Faith and reason
The "Dark Ages"
The claims of science
The Holy Trinity
Creation and evolution
Angels
Devils
Man
Reincarnation
Sin
Christ
Mary
Grace and salvation
The Sacraments
Baptism
Confession
Holy Eucharist
The Sacrifice of the Mass
Holy Communion
The Catholic Priesthood
Marriage and divorce
Extreme Unction
Judgment
Hell
Purgatory
Indulgences
Heaven
The resurrection of the body
The end of the world

The Church and Her Moral Teachings

Conscience
Truth
Charity
Scandal
Tolerance
Censorship
The Inquisition
Astrology
Other superstitions
Attendance at Mass
Sex education
Attitude to "Free Love"
Abortion
Suicide

The Church in Her Worship

Magnificent edifices
Lavish ritual
Women in Church
Catholics and "Mother's Day"
Liturgical Days
Burial rites
Candles and votive lamps
The rosary
Lourdes water
The Scapular

The Church and Social Welfare

Social influence of the Church
The education question
The Church and world distress
Catholic attitude towards Capitalism
The remedy for social ills
Communism condemned
The Fascist State
Morality of war
May individuals become soldiers?
The Church and peace
Capital punishment
Catholic Action

Comparative Study of Non-Catholic Denominations

Defections from the Catholic Church
Gnosticism
Manichaeism
Arianism
Nestorianism
Eutychianism
Coptic Church
Greek Orthodox Church
Anglican Episcopal Church
The "Free" or "Nonconformist" Churches
Presbyterianism
Methodism
Church of Christ
Baptists
Seventh Day Adventists
Plymouth Brethren
Catholic Apostolic Church or Irvingites
Salvation Army
Spiritualism
Christian Science
Christadelphians
British Israelism
Liberal Catholics
Witnesses of Jehovah
Buchmanism or the "Oxford Group Movement"
From Protestantism to Catholicism

To and From Rome

Conversion of Cardinal Newman
Why Gladstone refrained
The peculiar case of Lord Halifax
Gibbon the historian
Secession of Father Chiniquy
Father Tyrrell, the modernist
Bishop Garrett's departure
Judgment on lapsed Catholics
Protestant apathy towards conversion of Catholics
Principles for converts to Catholicism
God's will that all should become Catholics

Obligation to be a Catholic

444. Is it necessary for salvation to become amember of the Catholic Church?

Since God sent His only-begotten Son into this world, and thatSon established the Catholic Church, sending it to teach allnations, it is certainly necessary to be taught by that Church ifone desires to save his soul. Christ said, "If a man will nothear the Church, let him be as the heathen." Matt. XVIII.,17.

445. Do you assert that all people not members ofthe Roman Church are heathens?

I would not make such an assertion without due qualifications.The Catholic Church, of course, stands foursquare for the teachingsof the Gospel. She accepts absolutely all that Christ says. Andconsequently, she accepts the words of Christ recorded in Matt.XVIII., 17, "If a man will not hear the Church, let him be asthe heathen." But to whom does the Church apply those words?She applies them only to those who clearly realize that theCatholic Church is the one true Church, yet who refuse submissionand obedience to it. Therefore, she does not regard as heathens thevast majority of non-Catholics, for they have never clearlyrealized her truth. Full allowance is made for sincere yet mistakenpeople.

446. Religiously I am just nothing, and have neverbothered about religion. Do you say that I am obliged to become aCatholic?

God has declared the Catholic religion to be necessary. And onewho becomes aware of that must become a Catholic if he wishes tosave his soul. But you adopt a peculiar position. You say you havenever bothered about religion. Then it is most necessary that youbegin to give your attention to the question. For example, you wentto the bother of learning to write. You have bothered to learn theuse of various things which are necessary to your earthly welfare.You know what those things are for. But surely it is man's dutyto know what he himself is for! And a man cannot know that unlesshe knows the fundamental truth concerning his origin, his nature,his destiny, and the moral law. The teachings of the true religionalone can provide the necessary knowledge, and a man is obliged tofind that true religion. And you are robbed of excuse by the factthat a vast international Church like the Catholic Church is inthis world, claiming to speak with the authority of God. Confrontedwith such a fact, every reasonable man would say, "Such claimsare rather tremendous. At least, I'd better look into them andsee whether there is any justification for them." One whowould note the fact, and simply not bother about it, is violatingreason, and has only himself to blame if he wrecks his eternaldestiny.

447. There is no need to join the Catholic Church inorder to be saved. John III., 15, says, "Whosoever believethin Him will not perish, but will have life everlasting."

That particular text does not say that non-Catholics will besaved. It might avail if Christ had never said anything else. ButHe said much else. And whosoever really believes in Christ mustaccept every single thing He taught, and try to fulfill all that Hecommanded. For example, He said, "Unless your justice aboundmore than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enterinto the kingdom of heaven." Matt. V., 20. One could believein Christ, yet make no effort to acquire the prescribed justice.That is why Christ said, "Not every one who cries: 'Lord,Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt. VII., 21.It is evident that you cannot attach an unconditional and universalsense to the text you have quoted. They will be saved who sobelieve in Christ that they are prepared to accept and to fulfillall the conditions prescribed by Him.

448. There is nothing in those wonderful words of aprivileged Church.

The same Christ who uttered those wonderful words also said,"If a man will not hear the Church, let him be as the heathenand the publican." It is necessary then that those who believein Christ should hear and obey His Church. And you must askyourself whether you hear and obey any Church as your teacher andruler in religious matters. Also you must ask yourself what ChurchChrist had in mind when He spoke. If you say that it is notnecessary to obey any Church, you do not believe Christ's word.And in that case you cannot be ranked amongst those included in thepromise, "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish."The Church Christ had in mind was the Catholic Church; and once aman adverts to the fact, he must join her if he wishes to save hissoul.

449. Gal. III., 28, says, "There is neither Jewnor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither malenor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

St. Paul was speaking there of the Catholic Church in whichnational and earthly differences are no obstacle to membership.Insofar as we are members of the Catholic Church, all otherCatholics are our brethren. In our mutual faith there is neitherGentile nor Jew, neither German nor Frenchman, nor Italian, norIrishman, nor American. We Catholics are all one in Christ Jesus,belonging to His mystical body, the Catholic Church. But you, as aProtestant, do not belong to the same Church as Catholics. Youshould. The text you quote and which says that we should all be onecannot possibly justify our continued separation and your remainingoutside the Catholic Church. In reality, it is Protestantism whichsays that there are Jews and Gentiles, Englishmen and Germans,Dutch and Norwegians, for it permits religion to differ accordingto nationality. Where Catholicism has one religion for all nations,Protestantism sanctions as many religions as there are nations, andeven variations and divisions within the one nation. The text youquote is really suicidal for Protestantism, and proves thenecessity of Catholicism.

450. Would you presume to say that unless a man is aCatholic he is not serving Christ?

He is not serving Christ as Christ demands. But if he beignorant of the full teaching of Christ through no fault of hisown, he may be trying wholeheartedly to serve Christ, littlerealizing how mistaken are his ideas.

451. Surely this is disheartening to many who leadgood lives and believe in Christ, yet cannot conscientiously acceptthe dogmas of Rome.

Since the Catholic Church is the one true Church to which Godwills men to belong, it is impossible to hold out equal hopes ofsalvation to those who reject that Church and deprive themselves ofall the helps she can give. And if some of my statements disheartenthose outside the Church sufficiently to make them take aninterest, inquire, and discover the truth, leading eventually totheir becoming Catholics, I have done them a very great serviceindeed.

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