WIV 1 LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Has id popular church one decades 10
join, there is a glamour that appeals
(0 Ones ego. The church of your
choice, as we all know, is popular;
therefore, there is no sacrifice in be-
coming a member ol at.
The beautitul Gothic edifices ol
worship. the pomp and ritualistic
services which tend to captivate the
cinotons, the enchanting music, the
priestly robes, the genuflections, the
vlitering tinargical objects that fas
cinate the eve, the mystery of the
Mass conducted in a language foreign
to the worshippers-—all of these in-
spire a sense of awe. This display of
pride and opulence charms and in
trigues.
The rchigion of Jesus Christ docs
not lend itself to any ostentatious dis-
play nor exhibition of outward piety.
The unobtrusive Galilean resorted to
no ritualism, no vving for regal and
political power. "These never entered
into the life of the divine Son of God
or anv ol His apostles. The apostle
Paul attests to this:
“For 1 think that God hath sct
forth us the apostles last, as it were
appointed to death: for we are made
a spectacte unto the world, and to
angels, and to men, We are fools for
Christ's sake. but ve are wise in
Christ; we are weak, but ve are strong:
ve arc honourable, but we are de-
spised. Even unto this present hour
we both hunger, and thirst. and are
naked, and are buffeted, and have
no certain dwelling place: and la
hour, working with our own hands:
heing reviled, we bless: being per-
scouted, we sulfer it: being detamed,
we entreats we are made as the filth
of the world, and are the offscouring
of all things unto this dav.” 1 Corin
thians 10-13.
I do not believe that Christ has
changed His standards for His tol
fowers to-day. Those who are truce
followers of Christ and Christianity
will nat be honed among the grea
men. Azam, I quote from the illus.
rious apostle:
“For ve see vour calling, brethren,
how that not manv wise men after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many
noble, are called: but God hath
chosen the foolish things of the world
10 confound the wise: and God hath
MAY, 174s
chosen the weak things ot the world
tn confound the things which are
mighty: and base things of the world.
and things which are despised, hath
God chosen, vea, and things which
arc not, Lo bring to nought things
that are: that no flesh should glory in
His presence. Bur of Hin are ye in
Christ Jesus, who ol God 1s made
unto us wisdom. and righteousness,
and sanctification, aid redemption:
that, according as 1 1s written, He
that gloricth, Ter him glory in the
Lord,” 1 Corinthians 1:26-81.
I deplore the kind of Protestantism
with which vou were associated, and
the things which vou revealed in
vour article. T regret 1o acknowledge
that what vou have stated 1s true.
Protestantisin, in the best and true
sense of the word, 1s at a low cbb.
Protestants generally have last their
love for the Holy Bible. They are
(oliowing Rome in display and empty
form. They are also dabbling in
politics. Philosophical and matert-
alistic sermons, rather than exhorta
tions based on Scripture, are preached
from 1heir pulpits. Skepticism and
higher criticism in Protestant colleges
have resulted in disbelief in the mn:
spiration of the Bible. This unholy
stream has filtered into the hearts of
the laity, and thus we are witnessing
the spiritual decline of the Protestant
church. However, 11 must not be for.
cotten that there are those who have
tasted the power that God has in-
vested in his Word. True. they are
few In mumber as has always been
the case of the real followers of Christ,
While they mav be of hire repute
among the socalled great of earth,
vet in the eves of heaven they are
esteemed. and will be rewarded with
cternal life. (Deweronamy 7:7: Mat
thew 25:31-16: Revelation 22:11)
[ agree with vou on your stand
against the prevailing lack of sane
tity on the part of Protestants relative
to the holy bonds of matrimony. But
while [ deplore the Protestant divorce
and all that 1c entaals, 1 lightly esteem
the Sacred Rota and is anmulments.
The Protestant divorce at least gives
to the unfortunate children of such
inharmaonious marriages a legitimate
name. and saves the parents rom the
disgrace of being ginliy of concubin-
An Open Letter to Clare Boothe Luce
age while cohabiting as man and
wile. On the other hand, the Roman
anuubment reverses this order by say-
ing that no marriage ever existed; so,
consequently, the offspring is illegit-
imate. Hence my revolt against a
court that produces legislation of this
character and my utter disregard for
the judges who, while wearing clerical
robes, will venture to nullify and
obliterate the most sacred union we
have in this world, and deny that the
nuptial celebration ever existed be-
tween the incompatible couple. What
a legacy to hand down to children
whose parents have had their mar-
riage annulled! Born out of wedlock!
A stigma that they, without any fault
of their own, must carry to the grave
What a travesty of justice!
The codesiastical judicial court
known as the Sacred Rota was mn-
stituted by Pope John XXII in 1326,
and regulated by Pope Sixtus TV be:
tween E71 ane 14810 Tt was further
regulated by Benedict XIV in his
reign as Pope during the years 1740
to 175%. As late as 1908. Pope Pius N
re-established this tribunal where de-
astons are reached on contested
points. It is this tribunal where mat-
rimonial cases are decided according
to canon law. Tt is mn this court where
canon law assumes the prerogative of
nullifving the state civil law, a law
which is in force for the purpose of
preserving the purity of society. This
court can extend its POWEr across the
Atlantic to the United States, and
deliberately flaunt the validity of the
law of this country concerning matri-
mony. When a couple, after fulfilling
every requirement for legal marriage,
are pronounced man and wife by the
officiating representative of the law
of the state in which they live, why
should a few judges sitting in the
city of Rome hand down a decision
that counteracts and denies the au-
thenticity of that lawful act? The
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