Calling in Clergyman

SLR,—Has a dyius non-Catholic the right to receive spiritual consolations while on his deathbed? And if so, has he the right to seek these consolations from the only source he recognises, his clergyman?
Catholics claim, for those of their own Faith, this right, and insist that a priest be called to help the dying with the means at his disposal. And, since they recognise non-Catholics as fellow-Christians, presumably baptised, and able to be saved by contrition, they also presume that the non-Catholic minister, in aiding a sick person, endeavours to excite in them sentiments of faith and contrition—by the use of those means familiar to their co-believers.
Catholic charity prompts one to do all that is logically possibld, under the circumstances, to help the dying person, and Catholic custom suggests . calling for the spiritual guide to whom the dying one is entrusted—unless the person indicates some other alternative. Surely it will be of some help to the dying, to catl the minister.
Instructions forbidding Catholics to act in this manner were issued at a time when Protestants were looked upon as formal heretics, This is not the case of those whn are born and brought up in a milieu where it is next to impossible for them to learn Catholic teaching. In to-day's world, heresy is an " original " sin (not a formal one, for which a, priest's absolution should be requested). If, then, we can steer a way through the uncompromising principle that outside. the Church there is no salvation, why should we expose ourselves to the embarrassment of defending the old rule that Catholics must not call a non-Catholic clergyman for a dying non-Catholic? There does not seem to be any practical alternative to follow.
CANADIAN CHAPLAIN.
A Catholic Doctor's View
SIR,—The answer to the question as to whether Catholics are lawful in calling in a non-Catholic clergyman to a dying nonCatholic C' Longs and Shorts," 29/8/41) raised a serious problem for us Catholic doctors.
As far as a preliminary local enquiry guides me, it appears that my Catholic colleagues are in the habit of calling in the heretic clergy to their heretic dying. My own invariable practice is to do so. My reasons are: (1) Practically without exception my nonCatholic patients are " material heretics " rather than of the formal type. Hence they are quite blameless. This fact disposes of " Heresy is a sin," " helping to confirm the latter in the practice of a false religion " and " the soul is injured by it," etc,
(2) For the unfortunately large proportion who are indifferent and range in state from material heresy to a state of infidelism I feel that some semblance of Christianity ought to pervade the last moments of even a nominal Christian. This appears to me as a minimum. unaltered by considerations of heresy in the same way as a lay person is empowered to baptize, such is the essential nature of the Sacrament.
(3) A Catholic priest at the death-bed of most of my non-Catholic patients would be unacceptable and unintelligible. 1. personally, wouldn't dream of usurping the role of the clergyman the dying man is most likely to understand and benefit from.
(t) Having once witnessed the spectacle of rival clergy " after " the soul of a simple girl dying of pulmonary consumption and oblivious in health and illness to the claims of either caller, I decided that decorum decreed my taking some part in the spiritual necessities of my patients.
(5) Even if the very harsh reple■ to the query in the CATHOLIC. HERALD were substantially true, it would have been better for everyone concerned if the ideas were stillborn. As it is the learned letterpress tends to " confirm the latter (i.e.. non-Catholic) in the practice of a false religion."
I will now start to think of a good excuse for spiriting away this week's CATHOLIC tiFam_rp from the gaze of my heretic friends, C. F. KEANE,. ,
Pedmore, Stourbridge.
Spiritual Gestapo?
Site—The whole tone of the reply about the non-Catholic dying is, to me, discourt eous and un-Christ-like. Ia. it really our duty to try to thrust the penny Catechism down the throat of a dying man—a sort of spiritual gestapo method? Surely some vela, clear and courageous thinking is needed about heretics and heresy, and we cannot do better than attend to the words of Cardinal Hinsley. who has said: " You are in heresy, but God forbid that we call you heretics."
This statement, while maintaining the sharp outline of truth. is also the answer to a legalistic outlook which in the modern world will do more harm than good. Yet your theological correspondent's answer is couched throughout in such a legalistic spirit, yielding only with a bad grace to the unfortunate necessities of the time.
Does any word of our Lord justify this answer? The Anglican and Methodist in good faith is not against Him. We've all
known crowds of -them, haven't We? Is not that religion best for the dying man in which he truly believes, whether he he Jew, Hindu or Methodist? This flourishing of the Means Test only drives men away. A. R. [We are informed that the theologian's answer is in conformity with every Catholic theological authority. There is no exception, It Is obvious that under these circumstances no theological expert could give a different answer.—EDITOR,
Practical
SIR,—Re your article on page 3 under " Longs." As a reader of your paper for years, please tell me shortly: If a Roman Catholic woman is married to a Protestant and he is ill, can she call a Church of England clergyman to him if he so desires. Or must she get the Protestant maid to do so?
S. PARKER PICKERING.