The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-13
Rnsycieal Letter to the Patriarchs, Primatss,
ArchbishcpS and Bishops Of the Catholic
Church Throughout the World.
DadIsaIkm, Revolution, the own Of the
People," Pcnlanism, secret Societies,
immoral Books, Trading Politicians
and Free Schools Denounced.
The Relation Of the Church to
the State,
&C., &C., &c.
The Letter.

The Letter.
ne following the full Of the, Pope's encyccal
Assser issued from Rome the sth of December 1884
nArra ARfHmsHoPs AND BISHOPS IN COMMUNION WITH
The APOSTOLIC SEE
beessing You know venerable brethren with what
what pastoral vigilance the Roman Pontfs, pre-
decesscrs fulfilling the charge entrusted 10 them by
Lord Christ himself in the person of the blessed
Peter chief of tho Apostles have unfaingly observed
duty providing food for the sheep and the lambs
assduous nourishng the flock of the Lord with the
words Of faith in mbuing them with salutary doctrine
md In turning them away from poisoned pastures all
shis s known TO you, and you have appreciated It, And
certainly predecessors in affirming and in vindicatng
the august Catholic faith, truth and Justice
nsver animated the salvation of souls by
more desire than that Of extinguishing and
OopdeEning by their letters and their constitutions all
The hereses and which enemies of divine
lah OF the doctrines Of the Catholic church. OF the
purity Of morals, and Of the eternal salvation Of man,
have frequently excited serious storms and preciptated
civil and Christian society into the most deplorabe mis-
fortunes For this reason predecessors have opposed
themselves with vigorous energy the criminal enter
prises OF those wicked men, who spreading their dis
iurbing opinions like the of raging and pro-
isi9 liberty ,che they saces 10 corrutio endeavor
by their perncous writings TO overtnrn the foundations
sf the Christian Catholic religion Of civt society,"
destroy all virtue and justice; deprave all minds and
81 inexperienced YOUTH from the healthy discipline OF
norals; TO corrupt 1t miseraby to draw it into the
eshes Of error and finally, to tear il from the bosom
u the Catholic church.
But You are aware, venerable brethren, we had
scarcely been raised to the chair Of St Peter above
merits by the mysterious designs Of divine Providence
han seeing with the profound grief Of our soul the
Aorrible storm excited by evil doctrines and the very
grove deploabe injury caused specially by 80 many
srrsrs 70 Christian people in accordance With the rty
Of our apostolic ministry and following in the glorious
Footsteps of our predecessor raised voice. and by
he publication OF several encyclicas conssora letters
md alocutions, and other apostolca letters have
condemned the principal errors Of sad age rean
mated your utmost episcopal vigilance warned and ex.
hored upon various occasions all our dear children In
The Catholic church rcpe and absolutely avoid the
our irst encyclical of the 9th November 1886 adj
dressed you and in our two allocutions Of the
eth December, 1864, and the 9th June 1882
20 the consistories we condemned the mon.
strous opinions which particularly predominant in
che derment Of civil socety-doctrines which not only
attack the Catholic church. her sauary instruction. and
her venerable rights but also the natural unalteabe law
inscribed by God upon the heart Of man-hd Of sound
Tsdgon.
Bull although have not hitherto omitted to prescribe
md reprove the principal errors this kind cause
Of Catholic church the safety OF the souls which have
been conided to us and The peii being Of human society
ef absolutely demand that we should again exercise
our PASTORAL soicude TO destroy new opinions which
upriuc out Of these same errors from many
1n.e ,aise anu ,i ~, W., et, =, ~ d 49,, id ~ ,
tary force thai the Catholic church. by the example
her divine Author and His order ought freely to exer
cse until the end of time not only with regard each
Individual man. but uith regard TO nations pcoples
nd their rulers, and to destroy that agreement
ana concord between the priesthood and the gov
ernmeut which have always existed for the happiness
and security of religious civil society For you
wei avaYe n
numbcr of men in the present day who anpvne TO civil
pociety the inupsou and absurd principle Of nauraIis
- Is called dare to teach that the perfect right OF
public society and civil progress absolutely require con
on of human society constituted and governed srtout
regard 20 az constderaoms of religion as II il had no
existence or at least without making any distinction be-
tween niue religion and hcresyn And contrary 70 the
Ssaching of the Holy Scriptures Of the Church. and Of
1he Fathers they do not hesitate 10 affirm that the best
condition OF society is that in which the power OF the
laity rs not compelled 10 nct the penalties OF law upon
yoitors of the Catholic religion unless required by con
hxro, -
social government absolutely false, they do hest
tate further propagate this opninon very
huru To the safety OF the Catholic church and Of souls
and termed deriuns by predecessor Gregory XVI,
Of excellent memory viz "Ltberty Of conscience and
Of soorsip u the right of euery nan- right uhica ought
% be proclaimed and established by la Gerry ,ceu con-
st,te State and that citizens are ed 10 make known
and declare with a liberty which neither the eccesl-
Astca nor the civil authority can init their convictions
Of whatever kind either by word Of mouth, or through
The press or by other means > but in making these
rash assert ons they do not reflect they do not con
sider that they preach the liberty of perdion (S Angus
tine Epste los al 1861 and that III it always free
70 human on 10 discuss men Will never be want
ing who dare TO struggle against truth rely
ssson toqudcity of human icisdom chen knosc by
the example of our Lord Jesus Christ ho,o fai0 and
CArisiar saqacity ought 10 arod this rery culpabie
VANITY (St Leon. Epstle 1874 al 1873, f. 9 Boil ed
Since alas religion has been banished from civil GOV.
ernment-snce the doctrine and authority Of divine
violation have been repudated the ideas intimately
neced Herewith Of justice and human ghs is obscured
by darkness and lost sight of and in place OF true justice
and legitimate right force IS substituted which has
permitted some entirely oblyous Of the panest prin-
cples sound proclaim THAT the VIII
OF the people, manifested BY wtdt called public opinion
by other constitutes supreme law, superior TO
ell divine and human right; aud that accomplished facts
political affairs by the fact Of their having been
accomplished have the force OF law But who does not
perfectly and understand that human society released
from the ties Of religion and true justice, have
further object than TO arnass riches and follow
other law in its action than the ndom table wckedness
OF a heart given up 10 pleasure and INTEREST,"
For this reason, also, these same men persccuto with
relentless hatred the religious orders who have de-
served well of religion civil society and letters they
loudly declare that the orders have right to exit
and In doing make common cause with the false
hoods OF the herecs for as taught by our predecessor
of illusrous memory Plus VI, 'the abolition OF reli
ods houses injuries the state OF public profession, and
Of life recommended by the church and in conformity
with the apostolcal doctrine does wrong to the cee.
DRAFTED founders whom We venerate upon the altar, and
God nEpistlc 70 Cardinal DE La Rochcfoucad, March
10, 1921
In their mpcty these same persons pretend that cti