The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-18
atheelin9 Ge9ister.
N*"F8 WY S*U'"""'
ENCYCLICAL LETTER.
OF THE MOSr HOLY FAITH Err +,
POPE LEO Mil.
To all the Patriarehs; Primaies,
Archbishops AID Bishops Of the
Catholic World, 10 Favor and
In Communion with the
Apostolic See.
LEO KILL, POPE.

Venerable Brethren, Health and Apostc IL
Benedietion:
Raised only short time to the heigh
of the Apostolic dignity, but An inscrut
able decree of God, and without merit
ing it, we feel ourselves impelled by al
ardent desire, and, so to speak, even {
necessity to address you by letter, no
alone for the purpose of manifesting oul
feelings of deep affection for you, bu
also in the fulfllment Of the charge
which God has intrusted to us with the
object of encouraging you who are callet
on to share our solicltude, and OF con
fir ming you in the struggle with thu
present age, which, in common with US
you ought to sustain for the Church O
God and the salvation OF sous.
From the very commencement OF oa
Pontiti ate there was forced on US thu
sad spectacle Of the evils which on al
sides overwhelm the human race. W.
see the general subverslon OF the supreme
truths on which human society is basec
as on a foundation-the stubbornness o
mind which cannot endure any legitl
mate authority-the perpetual desire o
discussion, from which arise lntestln,
quarrels and cruel and ssnguinary war
the rejection of the rules which govern
morals and insure the carrying out o
iustice-the insausble lust for transitory
pleasures and the forgetfulness OF thing
which are eternal, both extended to suci
a degree OF insensate fury that frequent
Iy unhappy beings dare to lay Vlolen
hands even on themselves. We sec
again the iuconsiderste government o
States, the lavish expenditure and NAL
versation OF the public funds, the impu
dence Of those who from the momen
that they commit the worst treason en-
desvor to pass for champions Of liberty
and of ali the privileges of humanity
and finally the kind OF deadly pestilenc
which, penetrating into the very marrow
of human society, leaves it no repose, ant
threatens 1t even with fresh revolution
and the most calamitous results.
But we are convinced that the prlncl
nal source of those evils is the contemp
and rejection of the holy and august au
thority of the Church which presides II
the name of God over the human race
and which is the protection and guar
dian of all legitimate authority
The foes of public order lar
perfectly we'll aware of the tact, and
consequently, they have considered tina
nothing could aid more III upturning tn,
foundations of society than to wage al
ipcessant war on the Church of God t.
render il odious and hateful by scandal
GUS calumnies, such as representing 1t I,
be the enemy of true civilization, Il
weaken its strength and authority b.
continual attacks, and TO destroy the su
preme power of the Roman PonLit, who /
here below the protector and interprete
OF the eternal and immutable principle
of right and Justice. 1t IS in accordance
with this belief that we unhappily tint
lava subversive of the Divine constltu
ton of the Catholic Church promulgated
| in the greater number of States. This Il
the reason OF the contempt OF the eplsco
pal power and the difficulties thrown IL
| the way of the exercise OF the eccleslaS
teal ministry, the dispersion OF the re-
lipIous orders, the conhscation and public
sale of the property which seryed to sup
port tho servants of the Church, and
feed the poor. From this cause arise the
measures leading to the removal OF pub
lie institutions devoted TO charity and
benefcence from the sslutsry direction
of the Church, as well rs the unbridleo
freedom of teaching and publishing al
that is evil, while, on the other hand, the
right of the Church TO instruct and bring
up the youth is violated and oppressed IN
every possible manner. 1t is no other
cause which has led to the occupation OF
the temporal Principally which Divine
Providence accorded centuries ago to the
Bisop of Rome, so that he might exercise
freely and without hindrance the power
conferred on him by jesus Christ for the
eternal salvation Of the people.
We have reminded you OF this meIsn-
choly accumulation of evils, venerable
brethren, not for the plrpose OF lncreas-
ing the sorrow which such depiorsoie
state of affairs must in itself arouse IN
your breasts, but because we believe that
At its mere mention you will clearly per-
ceiye how serious is the situation which
calls for our ministry.snd our zeal, and
with what sssiduous care we must laoor
with sill our strength, especially In those
peryerss times IN which we hYe, to de-
lend and to vindicste the Church OF
Jesus Christ and the dignity OF the Apes
tolic See, which is the object of 80 many
calumnies. --.----------