The New York herald., 1875-08-16
LETTER FROM DIR. DOELLINGER.


DR.. D0llinger to a clergyman at Baden recently ap-
peared in the Heidelburg Journal The ultramontane
press has said that Dr. D0nger has not only of late
turned his back upon the ancient doctrines Of Catho
lcity, but that he has been in sympathy with
them 1t is an appeal the promulgation of which
through the press only be productive Of excellent
results:-
MUNICH Oct. 1S 1874
REVEREND sIR-Gladly do ] answer the questions
addressed to me- although briefly necessary in the
of an old man upon whose time there are many de-
mands.
So far as am concerned I class myself through
conviction with the ancient Catholic communion. be-
heve that it has high mission fulfill which is three
fold FistWitness to give for old ecclesiastical truth
against the and erroneous doctrines Of universal
power and inlaibility and to stand as permanent
and eloquent protest against the article
of faith that owes its existence to the arbitrary
determination of thslast Pope. Second-It is accord
ing my opinion the duty of the old Catholic COM
munon to draw back gently and by successive steps this
Church, disturbed by united superstition and error to
the simple and ancient faith. Third-It should serve
an instrument and means OF producingin the future
union Of the divided churches step in this di-
rection, if only small one, made some weeks ago
at Bonn trust III successful issue to this work OF
peace.
have, at tho same time, no hope that under the
next, the succeeding Pope anything of great
Importance VIII be accomplished and so far per-
ceive all who understand the position of the Roman
Cura and the clergy as hopeless as myself In the
whole Roman Church there is irresistible power be-
fore which all Othersbshops cardinals spiritual orders
and schoos-stand passive This is the Jesuit Order 1t
This will remain the same under new Pope, because
this Order Indispensable and at the time
not exist without ruling wishing to rule.
Earlier before 1873, this Order had many others in
the Church countrbaance because the other orders
strong and full oflife Now these latter either
powerless shadows else half willing half unwilling
satellites of the leading Jesuca stars and the Roman
Curia, Ia order TO remain Curia must lean upon the
Jesuitsthat is serve them according their demands
in order preserve her churchy monopoies and her
money. And the Jesuts are the incarnation of super
'ston with despotism
subject to themselves that is their Intention their aim
and the through which they obtain such mastery.
To this end their struggles to render religion
chancal the sacrifices OF the intellect that they demand
their pressure OF the soul 10 blind, unthnking obedi
ence, &c.
Roman communion, what may expect the next time
Is that the action that took place
under the dominion Of theological doctrine may be
pshed without any loud voice In opposition--I
tho solemn proclamation OF Aphonse Liguori Doctor
Eccles9 placing him thus by the side of Augustine,
Ambrose, &cl; the man whose false morality whose
marolaty and whose constant Of fables and false
hoods make his writings magazine of errors and lies
There is in the whole Of church history example Of
such a frightful and dangerous mistake known.
And yet every one is SILENT and in all the semnaries
will the rising generation Of clergymen be poisoned
with the books Of this Liguori.
Certainly such condition Of affairs cannot long en-
dure Sooner later reaction toward something
better must come; but from whence or how is hidden
from our eyes.
To your third question: What I would advise you TO
do answer:-Follow your own convictions and do
not let yourself be deceived by the pretcnce OF unity
that must be preserved and unconditional obedience
with which every deuson and Disagreement that sur
rounds religion is pallated. What should do in
this miserable state of affairs isro offer 10 God and
the world and to TRUTH 1t known 10 us the tes-
tmony that is due TO them. The common indifference
that thinks only upon its own conscience the stupid
submission and passive endurance of the clergy has
brought this evil from the Vatican upon us The
greater the number who will thus recognize it and de-
clare their resistance to this obedience and these false
doctrines the sooner may we hope for remedy In
haste, with all esteem, j. v DOELLlNGER.