The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE SACRAMENT OF TENANCE. 421And had you asked him why, helight in his eye.would have answered, because I was lost, and amfound ;having been dead, I am come to life again.II.ON THE RELATIVE MORALITY OF CATHOLICTANT COUNTRIES.AND PROTESIt has been gravely asserted that the confessionof sin and the doctrine of absolution tend to thespread of crime and immorality. Statistics are produced to show that murder and illegitimate birthdare largely in excess in countries under Catholic influence ;and that this prevalence of wickedness isthe result of Confession and easy absolution.If our system of absolving those only who bothrepent and confess, leads to laxity of morals, howmuch more must the Protestant system, which omitsthat which is most humiliating, and admits thesinner to reconciliation on condition of mere interiordispositions ? As all our catechisms teach, and asevery Catholic knows, there is no pardon of sinwithout sorrow of heart and purpose of amendment.It is a great mistake to suppose that the most ignorant Catholic believes he can procure the pardonof his sins by simply confessing them, without beingtruly sorry for them. The estimate which so manyProtestants set on the virtue of even the lower classesof Roman Catholics is clearly enough evinced in thepreference which they constantly manifest in their36