“CATHOLIC”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 8

“CATHOLIC”

IT) THE EDITOR. Sin, —The word “ Catholic” is .well worth a thought. Fowler says: it m open to Roman Catholics to use Catholic ’ by itself in a sense that excludes ah but themselves; but it is not open to a Protestant to use it instead of) Roman Catholic without implying that his own church has no right, to the name ot Catholic. Neither the desire of brevity (as in the Catholic countries) nor the instinct of courtesy fas in ‘ I am not forgetting that you arc a Catholic ) should induce anyone who is not Roman * Catholic to omit the Roman.” Your readers aie aware that your paper wishes to he courteous at all times and, to all people, therefore one feels that it is only necessary to point out that the Roman Catholic Church is not the only church which puls forward the claim to be called Catholic. To come to a wider use of the tit.e “ Catholic,” each part of the church that holds the Catholic creed administers the Catholic sacraments, rends the Catholic Scriptures, and continues the Catholic officials, is Catholic. As the Church or England has never ceased to do these things, she is Catholic. The Church of England is only Protestant in the sense that she protests against certain things Puritan and Papal. Her positive teaching is Catholic; her negative teaching is Protestant. We in the Church of England claim to be Catholic because we are universal in the sense that the church is throughout the world ; s and because it is universal in doctrine, in that it teaches universally and completely one and all the doctrines which men ought to know. And as Vernon Staley says: “It subjugates in order to Godliness every class of men, governors and governed, learned and unlearned; and because it universally treats and Leals every sort of sins, which are committed by soul and body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which is named, bqth in deeds and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts.” Vernon Staley also says; “The word ‘Catholic' means v ‘ universal,’ whilst the word ‘ Protestant ’ means ‘ making a protest.’ ‘Protestant’ is a negative term and does not express positive belief of any kind.” We of the Church of England claim a right to share the title of Catholic with our Roman Catholic brethren and with our Greek Catholic brethren because we are universal, as regards place, and universal as regards doctrine in that we teach the whole Apostolic Catholic faith. Others may put forward a claim to the use of the title “Catholic,” but I am concerned only, with the Catholic Church of England. I feel sure, Sir, that you will refrain from using “ Catholic ” to the exclusion of all but Roman Catholics. Roman Catholics may call themselves whatever they like,-but our newspapers, which belong to all, must be careful in the use of titles.—l am, etc., K. D. Andrews-Baxtek. June 10.