The News Democrat

MISSION
AT
CATHEDRAL
FOR
NON-CATHOLICS
The mission for non-Catholics was opened in the cathedral last evening. A large number attended the opening session. The Paulist fathers who opened the meeting were Rev. David W. Kennedy, C. S. P. and Rev. William T. Walsh, C. S. P.

The subject of last evening's address was "Christ, Is He God?" which was delivered by Fr. Walsh, before which Fr. Kennedy carefully explained the purpose of the week's series of meetings.

After declaring that many non-Catholics held an altogether false idea of the Catholic church, Fr. Kennedy said, in part:

"We believe that the Catholic church is the church of Jesus Christ, so we feel obliged to let the outside world know what we know. Our customs seem strange to one not brought up in a Catholic atmosphere, and did we think for a moment that our meetings here would make trouble they would be discontinued at once, but because we believe that the brothers outside of our fold are fair-minded and willing to listen to both sides of a question we continue them.

The meetings are not conducted in any controversial spirit at all, but simply with the idea of presenting and explaining in a fair-minded way the doctrines and teachings of the Catholic religion."

He then went on to explain the week's program and then announced that "Questions desired answered by non-Catholics, if dropped in a box placed at the church entrance will on the following evening receive in public the correct official answer of the Catholic church."

He then went on to explain the meaning of the benediction of the blessed sacrament, with which the service closed, stating that it was performed that visitors might see the religion of the Catholics just as it exists.

In concluding his address, Fr. Kennedy answered one of the questions most frequently asked "Does it really make any difference what is one's belief so long as one lives a good life?" The speaker vigorously affirmed that it did matter most materially and scored the doctrine of indifferentism severely, quoting the Scriptures to emphasize his point.

Rev. William T. Walsh, C. S. P., next spoke on the topic of the evening, "Christ, Is He God?" He said in part:

"There must be a teacher in the world today to tell you the good and the bad, and such a teacher must prove the teachings of Christ. You must know where the teacher Christ has left us and that we will discuss this evening.

"Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is Divine; that is, that He is God. Their religion is meaningless if this is not conceded.

"But on what grounds do they base this belief?

"First, on the witness of a society which dates back to His own time, the members of which saw Him, knew Him intimately and had every reason to verify this fact.

"Secondly, on the New Testament, which is the abiding record of His words, acts and promises. Whatever minor difficulties may be raised about the New Testament, it is beyond question a book of highest historical value. It is veracious and upon this point it is explicit and most peremptory. It presents us not only a transcript of a wonderful life, but gives us the photograph of Him who lived it."