Catholic Apologetics Online

Choose a topic from Vol 3:

God

Man

Religion

The Religion of the Bible

The Christian Religion

A Definite Christian Faith

The Problem of Reunion

The Truth of Catholicism

The Church and the Bible

The Dogmas of the Catholic Church

Moral Teachings of the Catholic Church

The Church in Her Worship

The Church and Social Welfare

Why build churches?

1267. What authority has the Catholic Church from God or from the Bible to justify the erection of Churches as places of worship?

The authority given her by Christ to regulate all things connected with His religion. Thus Christ said to the Church, "Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven." He gave to her the power to legislate for all future religious needs. We know that God Himself commanded the Jews to build the Temple at Jerusalem as their chief place of worship. We know, also, that Christ loved and reverenced that Temple. He taught in it. He called it His Father's House. He was most indignant with those who would desecrate it, and drove from its holy precincts the buyers and sellers who turned it into a market and a den of thieves.

1268. Why do priests build churches?

Because duties of public worship according to the Christian religion require public places of worship dedicated to God, just as was the case in the Jewish dispensation. Nowhere in the Bible is there the least hint that Christians are dispensed from the duty of public and collective worship, or that the building of churches for the purpose is against the will of Christ.

1269. Why are Catholic Churches constructed so lavishly?

They are not always lavish. But Catholics believe that nothing can be too good for God, and, therefore, desire that the building consecrated to His worship should be at least as beautiful a one as they can afford to build. Non-Catholics easily outnumber Catholics in this country, and if they are not so lavish where their religion is concerned, they at least refrain from criticizing the generosity of Catholics, as a rule.

1270. Why such grand Churches when Christ was so humble? Our best Churches are worthless compared with our teaching of the glories of heaven.

Christ did humble Himself, but it is not for us to humble Him. Let us humble ourselves if you like, but our very best is not too good for Christ. Though Christ was so humble, you seem to think that all things must contribute to the glory and welfare of man, as if no God existed. David cried of old, "I have loved,O Lord, the beauty of Thy House." We Catholics desire to dedicate to God and to religion the best we have. Our best may fall short of the glory of heaven. But we are not in heaven; we are in this world. And the fact that the glory of heaven surpasses any glory we can give to God on earth does not dispense us from giving God such glory as we can during this life.

1271. What did Jesus do and say with the Temple the Jews were so proud of?

I hope you are not going to say that He disapproved of the Temple at Jerusalem, nor of the principle of erecting beautiful buildings for the glory and worship of God. Remember that God Himself commanded the building of the Temple at Jerusalem. As for what Jesus said and did, He called it His Father's House, reverenced it, and cast out of it those who would desecrate it.

1272. The Jews, so proud of their Temple, defiled it and blasphemed the name of God.

That is no argument against the Temple. It is an argument against the Jews who defiled it, and the degree of guilt in defiling it was proportionate to the very sanctity of the place in the sight of God.

1273. To my mind it is wrong to waste so much money in the name of religion.

To that I can merely say that you have a wrong mind on the subject. It is a peculiar thing that people do not object to magnificent undertakings proportionately to the dignity of their country or city. We may have lavish coronation ceremonies almost regardless of expense. We must have a magnificent town hall, post office, banks, and other public buildings in keeping with the civic position of the community. But it is wrong to pay a similar tribute to the religion of Christ, according to you. That is where you differ from the Catholic outlook. We Catholics do not object to civic magnificence proportionately to the dignity of our cities. But we hold that the honor and dignity of Christ and of the religion of Christ are far above any earthly grandeur. And for us, all that is ordained to the honor and glory of God holds the first place. For this reason it is a Catholic axiom that nothing can be too good for God. The building of a glorious church or chapel is but the expression of liberality in conception and generosity proportionate to the highest ideals. Those who would be too mean to contribute a penny to such a cause are the only ones who complain. But if they deplore the building of a beautiful Cathedral, and say that a tin shed would do just as well, it is because religion has become a very secondary thing to them, and the only thing that really counts in their eyes is material and earthly prosperity. It is religion itself which is a tin shed to them, whilst it is this world which is a magnificent town hall in their estimation.

1274. I am a Protestant, but it is your beautiful Cathedral Church that calls me, and I always attend there.

I scarcely know what you mean by that. Do you mean that our Cathedral Church as a beautiful building attracts you? If that is so, then had the Catholic Church no such beautiful Cathedral, it would not be of interest to you. It is the Catholic Church as our Lord's representative in this world which must attract people. And the Catholic Church is herself, whether she offers her worship in a magnificent Cathedral anywhere, or a thatched hut in the wilds of Papua. I confess that I am hopeful of people who are impressed by the solid authority of the Catholic Church rather than by a solid building; and who are moved rather by God's grace than by Gothic windows. However, even a beautiful Cathedral can inspire one to enquire into the truth of a religion which inspires such an ideal expression of the worship due to God. The heart of the Catholic religion is obedience. You see, we went from God by disobedience. The road back must be by obedience. And if religion is to get us back, its essential demand must be obedience. And the true Church, representing the genuine religion, must be characterized by the spirit of obedience. That is why the Catholic Church alone is characterized by such firm principles of obedience. Catholics obey their Church, not because they like this or that element of discipline, but because of the authority of Christ vested in their Church. He who obeys because he likes what is commanded, is quite likely to disobey should he disapprove. He knows nothing of real obedience, which is essentially respect for the inherent authority of the one commanding. I obey because it is the law, not for any motive of self-satisfaction.

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MORE FROM VOLUME 3

• About the Author
• Preface
  - Msgr Fulton J Sheen
• Author's Foreword
  - Dr Rumble, MSC

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