Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-08-03

n5~ The Poprs BuLL.--The Pope has issued
bull published in the Freeman's Journal, Ro
man Catholic paper in New York, which has ex
cited considerable sensation. The bull is address.
sed to the Romish Clergy throughout the world,
and is directed against the efforts of a Religious
Society, in New York, made mp ofdiffereut sects,
for the purpose of introducing and circulating
the Bible in Italy and other places, under the do
minion of the Catholic Church 1t occupies a.
bout two columns. We publish the following
extract as a part ofthe history of the times
Venerable Brothers, health and greeting A.
postolcal--Among the many attempts which the
enemies of Catholicism are daily making in our
age, TO seduce the truly faithful and deprive them
of the holy instructions of the faith the efforts
of those Bible Societies are conspicuous, which,
originally established in England, and propaga.
ted throughout the universe, labor every where
10 disseminate the books of the Holy Scriptures
translated into the vulgar tongue. You are but
too well aware, my reverend bretheren, 10 what
the efforts of these societies tend They only
care audacously TO stimulate all to private in.
depreciation OF the divine oracles to inspire con.
Church preserves upon the authority of the holy
fathers--in a word TO cause them 10 reject even
the authority of the Church herself 1t is long
since pastors found themselves necessitated to
turn their attentions TO the versions current at
secret conventicles, and which heefics labored
at great expense TO disseminate.
"Indeed, many precise advices and
documents teach us that vast number of mem.
bers of sects in New York, in America, at one
of their meetings, held on the 4th of June last
year, have formed new association, which will
take the name of the Christian League (Foederis
Ch"isiianaD league composed of individuals of
every nation, and which is to be further increas
ed in numbers by other auxiliary societies, all
having the same object, viz: 10 propagate a.
mongst the Italians, and especially Romans, the
principles of Christian liberty or, rather, an
| insane indifference to all religion.
| This society strains every nerve so to intro
dnce amongst them, by means of individuals col
lected from all parts, corrupt and vulgar bibles
and to scatter them secretly amongst the faith.
ful At the same time their intention is TO dis.
withdraw from the minds oftheir readers all re.
spect for the Church and the Holy See These
books and tracts have been composed in Italian,
or translated into Italian from other languages,
with the aid of Italians themselves, and amongst
these books should be particularly cited The
History of the Reformation by Merle d Aubigue
and Calender of the Reformation in Italy Eos
les de la Reforme en- Itale) by Jean Crie'
Wherefore having consulted some of the Car
dnals of the Holy Romish Church, after having
duly examined with them everything and listen
! ed to their advice, we have decided, venerable
! brothers, on addressing you this letter, by which
we again condemn the Bible societies, reported
| long ago by our predecessors and by virtue OF
the supreme authority of our apostleship we re-
prove by name and condemn the aforesaid soci.
ETY. called the Christian League, formed last
! year at New York il, together with every o.
! ther society associated with it, or which may be.
come So
Let all know then the enormity ofthe sin a
ganst God and his Church which they are guilty
of who dare 10 associate themselves with any o.
these societies, or abct them in any way. More
over, we confirm and renew the decree recitet
above, delivered in former times by apostolica
authority against the publication, Distribution
reading, and possession Of hooks Of The Hoh
Scriptures translated into the mother tongue"
Given at Rome from the Basilic of st. Peter
on the sth Of May, in the year 1914, and tn,
| fourteenth of our Pontfcate.
(Signed) GREGORY XVI, s. P"