The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-05-26
FATHER CURCL.
London Tablet, May IL.

We have occasion elsewhere to speak O
the case of F. Curci, which has been 81
much misrepresented. And to what ha
been said We have now TO add that the dis
tinguished ex Jesuit has made the fulles
retractation of anything which the Holy
Father may deem worthy of censure in his
writings. The papers have lately been
full OF telegrams more or less misleadi ne
with regard to F. Curci's position and pro
ceediDgs. We were told, in connection to
audiences which he was stated to have h ad
at the Vatican, that his Holiness had re
quested him to "give the Church the BEN
eft of his teaching" which was interpret
ed as complete approval of all that F.
Curci had written, and which was exagger-
ated, in one despatch, into q statement
| "help in the management OF the affairs of
the Church." We waited till something
authentic should appear, but had little
doubt that, if F. Curci had been told to
give the Church the benefit of his teaching,
this referred to the continuance of those
sacerdotal labors from which religion has
always reaped an abundant fruit. But as
to the particular point upon which F. Curci
broke with the great Society of which he
had 30 long been q distinguished member,
he writes to Pope Leo XIII. in the follow
ing terms :-"KuowiDg," he says, "that
some of his recent writings have been the
occasion of scandal, as has been shown
him by pious and learned personages, and
being des!rous on his own part of prevent
ing even the occasion of scandal, be comes
and casts himself at your Hotiness's feet
in order to declare that he adheres fully
and unreservedly with heart and mind to
ell the teachings and prescriptions of the
Catholic Church, and especially to all
that the Sovereign Pontifff, and quite
recently your Holiness in the Ency-
clical, teach as to the Temporal Power of the
Holy See. He deplores any vexation his
writings and teachings may bave caused
your Holiness and your Predecessor, hav-
ing ever cherished the sincerest feelings of
flial homage and doeiie obedience for the |
Vicar of Jesus Christ, to whom he submits !
his Judgment as the proper and only COM
petent judge of all that appertains to the |
real utility and profit of the Church and to |
the welfare of souls. This declaration he
ever been and still is; and, W nile withdraw
ing all that your Holiness deems worthy of
censure, he places himself wholly in your
bands, qeite ready everywhere aud always
to follow your infallible guidance" Nota-
ing can be more complete than this sub
Of F. Curei. And it must be remembered
that, as regards the principal of the TEN
ooral Power, and its necessity for the
,piritual independence of the Holy See, F.
Curci has always been as one with his
ecclesiastical superiors. The points upon
|
'ability of it's restoration, the posi- oility Of
an accord between the Papacy
md the present Government of Italy-the {
means suggested by him to that end Q had
imeelf already condemned as Utopian-l
md the desirahility of Catholics taking an !
ctive part in politics, 80 as to form Ca t
holic party in the existiDg Legislature. 1
His opinion on these points be now submits I
o the judgment of the Holy Father, as the {
roper and only competent judge of what I
be true attitude of loyal Catholic. Pri- {
ate opinion is. of course, free as to whether 6
he Temporal Power is likely to be speedi- t
? restored, or whether the Church in Italy Z
J likely to remain for a time subject to op-
ression from the Civil Power, but the Holy ]
go is the only competent judge in the t
uestion whether the time mas come for I
Eafisn Catholics TO make use of their poll q
cal rights.