CATHOLIC WORD BOOK - Knights of Columbus, Supreme Council

perishable and Whose existence is
underived; 4) the limited goodness in the
world must be a reflection of Unlimited
Goodness; 5) all things tend to become
something, and that inclination must have
proceeded from some Rational Planner.
R
Racism: A theory which holds that any one
or several of the different races of the
human family are inherently superior or
inferior to any one or several of the others.
The teaching denies the essential unity of
the human race, the equality and dignity
of all persons because of their common
possession of the same human nature, and
the participation of all in the divine plan of
redemption. It is radically opposed to the
virtue of justice and the precept of love of
neighbor. Differences of superiority and
inferiority which do exist are the result of
accidental factors operating in a wide
variety of circumstances, and are in no way
due to essential defects in any one or
several of the branches of the one human
race. The theory of racism, together with
practices related to it, is incompatible with
Christian doctrine.
Rash Judgment: Attributing faults to
another without sufficient reason; a
violation of the obligations of justice and
charity.
Rationalism: A theory which makes the
mind the measure and arbiter of all things,
including religious truth. A product of the
Enlightenment, it rejects the supernatural,
divine revelation, and authoritative
teaching by any church.
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Recollection: Meditation, attitude of
concentration or awareness of spiritual
matters and things pertaining to salvation
and the accomplishment of God’s will.
Relativism: Theory which holds that all
truth, including religious truth, is relative,
i.e., not absolute, certain or unchanging; a
product of agnosticism, indifferentism,
and an unwarranted extension of the
notion of truth in positive science.
Relativism is based on the tenet that
certain knowledge of any and all truth is
impossible. Therefore, no religion,
philosophy or science can be said to possess
the real truth; consequently, all religions,
philosophies and sciences may be
considered to have as much or as little of
truth as any of the others.
Relics: The physical remains and effects of
saints, which are considered worthy of
veneration inasmuch as they are
representative of persons in glory with
God. Catholic doctrine proscribes the view
that relics are not worthy of veneration. In
line with norms laid down by the Council
of Trent and subsequent enactments,
discipline concerning relics is subject to
control by the Congregations for the
Causes of Saints and for Divine Worship
and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Religion: The adoration and service of God
as expressed in divine worship and in daily
life. Religion is concerned with all of the
relations existing between God and
human beings, and between humans
themselves because of the central
significance of God. Objectively
considered, religion consists of a body of
truth that is believed, a code of morality
for the guidance of conduct, and a form of