For thirty, forty, fifty years I have resisted to the best of my powers the spirit of liberalism in religion. Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one creed is as good as another . . . It is inconsistent with any recognition of any religion, as true. It teaches that all are to be tolerated, for all are matters of opinion. Since then, religion is so personal a peculiarity and so private a possession, we must of necessity ignore it in the intercourse of man with man . . .
Religion is in no sense the bond of society . . .
Instead of the Church's authority and teaching, they would substitute first of all a universal and a thoroughly secular education . . .