11-06-1959 - E-Research

The Editor's CommentHas A New GospelBeen Discovered?Press agents, it has been said, can popularizeanything if they are given the green light. Apparentlythey are presently proving this point by callingwidespread attention to the recent publicationof the ancient manuscript entitled, "The Gospel accordingto Thomas."Soon people all over the country will knowthat the manuscript was discovered in Egyptin 1945 and that it claims to give 114 sayingsof Christ and lists the Apostle Thomas as thecompiler.Two Catholic Biblical scholars have comment^ed that the publication has historical interest, butlittle or no religious value. Msgr. Skehan of theCatholic University said: "The many false claimsmade for it in recent years can now be recognized- as nonsense."He went on to explain that the "sayings ofChrist are merely a parody of the first threeGospels. And the parody was not contrived tofurther Christian truths, but "to win followersfor a pagan religion known as Gnosticism."The publication, however, will appeal to manywho cherish novelty in religion and rejoice whensomething unexpected turns up. Apparently it hasever been so. Other apocryphal books in the earlycenturies of Christianity attained a certain popularity.There was a Gospel of St. Peter laced withthe flavor of the Docetist heresy. The Shepherd ofHermas was admired by many, but was not inspiredby God. Another book known as the-Acts of Paul,so Tertullian tells us, tells how St. Paul converteda young pagan girl who in turn became a preacherof the Gospel.According to Daniel-Kops, there were otherGospels according to St. James, St. Matthew,and even according to Nicodemus, infancy Gospelsfull of details about the first years ofJesus:, pseudo acts of the Apostles, and so on."They form a curious world," Daniel-Kopswrites, "in which snippets of truth float on asea of delirium."We can be certain that God never intended theBible to get larger as time went on. The canon ofinspired books was fixed many centuries ago andwill never be changed to admit a new discovery. Oneof the consolations of a Catholic's faith is the factthat every ancient manuscript brought to light, ifit is genuine, will serve to confirm what the Churchhas always taught.sTRANGELittle-KnownBy M. J. MURRAYBUT TRUFacts for Catholics ECopyright 1959, N.C.W.C. News Service-THESF ELABORATE MEDIEVAL FLOOR-TlLFS CAN STILL. BE SEEhl IHTHE RUIMED CLOISTERS OFTlTCWFiELD /\&BEY, ZMGLAHDwhere VTAUGUSTINEheld a Synod of theENGLISH BISHOPS.The WALLS OF THISCATHOLIC CHURCHOM THE CHANNELISLANDSBETWEENTHROUGHOUT THE ENGLAND frFRANCEREFORMATION IU EH6LAHDARE EMBEDDEDMASS W/Aff C£IEBRAT£D WlTrt FRAGMENTSIN THIS SECRET CHAPEL OF COLORED CHINABUILT INTO THE ATTIC OF FROM ALL OVERA SECLUDED COTTAGE . THE WORLD .Jhcs $00 yearo{U OAK.is Saidto"Niece of Yours, Sir*WASHINGTON LETTERMorality Of Nuclear WarDebated By World ScholarsBy J. J. GILBERTUCWC News ServiceThe frightening devastationinherent in nuclear warfare hascreated a host of problems bothuniquely knotty and uniquely urgent.Perhaps none is more thornyand, ultimately, more importantthan that of the morality of nuclearwar.Two recent statements — oneby an American Catholic scholar,the other by a British Catholicarchbishop — indicate thatthe morality of modern war is aproblem which is increasinglydisturbing to the Christian conscience.2-PRONGED APPROACHThey indicate, too, that anyserious discussion of the subjectmay have to take a twoprongedapproach.One aspect was outlined byDr. William V. O'Brien, chairmanof the Institute of WorldPolity at Georgetown University,in an address to the recentWashington 1 conference ofthe Catholic Association for InternationalPeace.Dr. O'Brien spoke on "TheRole of Force in the InternationalJuridicial Order." Hecontended that it is the dutyof moralists, military men andlegal experts to work togetherto hammer out a "coherenttheory of force" which canbe applied to modern warfare.He argued that it is imperativeto develop realisticprinciples and rules for the regulationand limitation of modernwarfare, including nuclearwarfare." He added: "TheChristian tradition requires thatinternational law and moralitypenetrate into the heat of battle.".Dr. O'Brien did not specifywhen and where his proposedgreat debate on, nuclear war isto be conducted. But a Britisharchbishop supplied his own answerrecently when he suggestedthat the morality of modernwar be placed on the agenda forthe coming ecumenical councilannounced by Pope John XXIII.Archbishop Thomas Roberts,S. J., retired Archbishop ofBombay, told a peace conferencein Birmingham, England,that he had already made thisproposal in a message to theVatican Secretariat of-State.The Archbishop said his messageto the Holy See emphasizedthat "the morality of warunder modern conditions disturbsthinking people everywhere,especially in countrieswhere freedom of consciencerules."Nevertheless, he said, he didnot suggest that the Holy Seeindulge in "authoritiative pronouncementswhich might onlydisturb good faith, court rebellionor disobedience, break underthe,weight of vested interestswhere the whole nationaleconomy is now geared to war."What he did suggest, ArchbishopRoberts continued, isthe setting up of a body ofexpert theologians, historiansand economists to study theproblem in preparation for theecumenical council.It would be the function ofsuch a body to "educate Catholicleaders in a sphere hithertoneglected," "clarify issues onwhich guidance is sought" and"coordinate in a supranationalatmosphere all work for peacebased on fundamentals of morality."-'HOW' OR 'WHETHER'?Dr. O'Brien' declared that hewishes to see investigation ofthe relatively pragmatic questionof how nuclear war can beconducted in" accord with morality.Archbishop Roberts, onthe other har.d, stated that it ishis personal opinion that nuclearwar cannot be justifiedmorally.TRUTH OF THE MATTERShould An Incurable PatientBe Told He # s Going To Die?By FATHER JAMES J. WALSHA statement by a doctor, reported in the papers, caught theattention of many people concerned with the problem of death.A. Dickonson Wright of the Royal College of Surgeons said: "... Ifeel that it is an impertinence to tell a man that he is aboutto die." He - was definitely against telling cancer patients aboutimpending death.Anyone who has had a lovedlife and prepare well and ferventlyfor the next. Everone slowly dying of a malig-"iestnancy has very likely gonethrough the ordeal of trying toconceal the true nature of thesickness, or else had to facethe unknown reaction of the patient,once he learned that hehad an incurable disease. Ineither case, considerable anxietywas experienced.We should realize that aserious question of justice andrights is involved here. A decisionto tell, or not to tellan incurable patient shouldnever depend on how one personallyfeels about it. Dr.Dickonson calls such a revelationan impertinence, thatis, an insult. But not tellinga patient the truth on thecontrary, could be a seriousinjustice.Among the ethical directivesin force in Catholic hospitals,this one should be known to doctorand layman: "Everyone hasthe right and the duty to preparefor the solemn moment ofdeath. Unless it is clear, therefore,that a dying patient is alreadywell prepared for deathas regards both temporal andspiritual affairs, it is the physician'sduty to inform him ofhis critical condition or to havesome other responsible personimpart this information."TEMPORAL AFFAIRSTake the matter of a patient'stemporal affairs first. If he hasnot made a will and has notbeen given an opportunity tocome to a decision about mattersthat affect the future wellbeingof his family, both the patientand his relatives are thevictims of injustice.Many doctors, unlike the custornof some years ago, nowfrankly tell their patients thetruth and thus, give them anopportunity to draw closer toGod, to cut the bonds with thiswho has dealt with L ablepatients can bear witness thatthe usual reaction of the onetold of his serious condition isnot blank despair and hysteria.Most of them, so wearyfrom the struggle to make alittle gain, are somewhat relievedto realize the fault isnot their own. And a goodCatholic at this point can behelped immeasurably towardsgenuine peace by his priest,who gently will make knownto him the wonderful helps inthe Sacrament designed byGod for those bearing theheavy cross of suffering.Only the Lord know howmany ordinary Catholi liedafter making great strides inholiness during a lingering illness,because they were taughthow to use those previous hoursto make reparation for a lifetimeDUTY TO INFORMNeedless to say, as FatherGerald Kelly writes, "the dutyof informing the patient of hiscritical condition so that he canprepare well for death does notnecessarily include the obligationof telling him the precisenature of his illness."Nor does it mean, as somesuppose, that the bearer ofsuch unhappy news mustbluntly and coldly read off asentence of death. If a patientis told at least that his illnessis of such a serious naturethat a wise person wouldtake prudent steps to put allhis interests in order, he willbe given enough to stir him tohis duty.If we are more concernedwith the eternal welfare of thesick than with a well meaningmomentary deception, we willrespect his right to know hiscondition.i . The Diocese of MiamilK6sWeekly Publication^ MM ^m^W ^fTf Embracing Florida's 16 South-B MB ^m ' ^^^ era Counties; Broward, Char-MB B B ^^>lott< ". Collier. Dade, De SotoS fm Hf J M j Glades, Hardee, Hendry, High-W\B ^^V^^^W lands, Indian River, Lee, Martin,**^*- ^^^-^^"^ Monroe Oke.echobee, . PalmBeach^ St. Lueie.Editorial: FLaza 8-0543Advertising and Circulation. PLaza 4-2561THE VOICE PUBLISHING CO., INC.The Most Rev. Coleman F. Carroll, Bishop of Miami, PresidentMonsignor John J. Fitzpatrick . Executive EditorMonsignor James F. NelanManagerial ConsultantFather James J. WalshEditorial ConsultantJohn J. WardEditorCharles Shreiner '. Assistant Edi* —George H. Monahan News E*Marjorie L. FillyawWilliam P. Dale ..«'.....Women's Edu...Business ManagerJoseph S. ZilleyCirculation ManagerSecond-class postage paid at Miami, FloridaSubscription rates: $5 a year; single copy 15 cents.Published every Thursdny at 6301 Blscayne Boulevard, Miami M. Florida.Address all mail to P.O. Box 52-684, Miami 52, Florida.Member Catholic Press Association. National Catholic Welfare ConferenceNews Service.News items intended for publication must be received by Friday noon,prior to following week's edition.Page 6 THE VOiC£. Miami, Ffa. Horamber 4, ±959