The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-20
ROME.
The P0ntsfcaI Butt COu vo kinR q . Gen era I
Council of tho Cat olic Church

The publication OF the Pom i6cal Ball ,nvok-
ing an Ecumenical Council OF the snops of
1869, took place ou The 3Oth ult., in the atrium
of the Vatican Basllica. The following are
extracts from the 5ocument:-
1t is already known and manifest to all how
horrible tempest now aeilates the Church,
and what grleVous ills af1ilct soc ETY., The
Catholic Church, her salutary doctrine, her
venerated power, and the supreme authority of
this Apostolic See are opposed and set at naught
by the bitter enemies OF God and mau. All
sacred tn ngs are contemped, ecclesas zeal pro-
perty is plundered, bishops and honored mon
attached to the divine mlnlstry, and men dis.
tinguished for their Cathoiic seutimeuts are
uoled in every wav,aud religious families sup
pressed. Impious books OF every ,Jind, pesllent
journals, aud multtudinous and most perni-
The education of the unhappy young
is Learly everywhere withdrawn from the
CLERGY, aud, what is worse, Is in many places
conhded to masters of impiety and error. Thus,
10 OIL poignant grief, and that of all good men,
and with mischief to souls that can never be
sufficiently deplored, lmpiety aud corruption of
manners have everywhere propagated them
selves, and there prevails an unbrl lied license
and a coDtagion of depraved opinions OF all
kinds and all vices and immoraitles, and SO
great violation Of divine aud human laws,
that not only our mos holy religion, but
human society also, ie thereby ms"raoly DIS
turbed ard afflicted. In the heavy accunu!a-
tion of calan tiles whereby our hearts oppressed,
the supreme pastoral charge condued to as re-
quires that we should ever increasingly exert
our sreneth to repair the ruin OF the Church,
to heal the souls of the Lords flock, and to
repe the assaults and fatal attempts of those
who strive TO uproot from their foundation, II
that were possible, both the Church and civil
society. And truly, by the help of God, from
the commencement of our Ponti6cate, we, con-
scious of our solemn obligation, have never
ceased to raise our voice in our consstorlal
allocutions and Apostolic letters, aud to defend
col stantly by every effort the cause of God and
His holy Church onnhdRd IN nv the Lord
Christ, TO uphold the rights of this Apostolic
See, and of Justice aud truth, and TO unmask
the insidious devices of its enemies, to con-
denim errors and false doctrines, TO prescribe
impious acts, and to watch over aud provide
the salvation of all the Lords flock. And
following the practice OF our illustrlous
predecessors, we have deemed, 1t opporr-
which we have already long desired, of
all our venerable brethren, the bishops
of the whole Catholic World, who are now
called to take part in our solIcitade. All these
things have to be most carefully examined and
regulated in this Ecumenical Council, more
particularly with regard 10 all that in these eVIl
times concerns the greater glory of God, the
integrity of the faith, the respect for divine
worship, and The e,ernal salvation of men, the
discipline Of the orders of the clergy, and their
solid and salutary training, the observance OF
| ecclesiastical laws, and the anelloratiou of
manners, the education of Christian youtR and
the peace and concord of all. And, further, the
| Council must seek, by anxious study that by
the help OF GOO, all ills may be redeemed from
| civil society; that errng wanderers NAV be led
back into the right way OF TRUTH aud that wee
| and error may be eliminated our august reli-
| gon and her salutary doot inc m ~ every where
| be quckened by fresh Ii q, and ma7 sill further
extend their influence. and thus piety, honesty,
| pIObity, JUSTICE charity, and all the Christian
| virtues may gather strength aud flourish, TO the
great benefit OF human society. None can ever
| deny that the strength Of the Catholic Church
| ana her doctrine does not alone regard the
eternal salvation of men, but Is essential also 10
| the temporal welfare of peoples, and to their
| real prosperity, order, and tranquility, and even
| TO the progress and sOidity OF human scI-nce-
| as the annals OF sacred and pro ane history
clearly prove by series of splendid facts, and
| still constantly demonstrate. We cherish the
hope that God, in whose hand are the hearts oI
men, showing Himself favorable to our desire
! may grant that by his ineaabe mercy and
grace all the supreme princes and Cover
nors, more especially Catholics of al
| nations growing daily more conscious o
| the immense benefits which human society
| derives from the Catholic Church, and kno wing
| that the Church is the most stable foundation
! OF empires and kingdoms. not only will moi
impede our venerable brethren, the bishop :.
| and others, from attending this Council, bui
| will rather aid and favor this object aud Co
PpeEaie zeSl9qsly NJ becomes Catholic princes