The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-29
VOL. 17---NO. IS.

demned by Innocent XI The book is
entitled IHe Morals of the JesalitS."-
In this remarkable work the author has
placed before the world the evidence on
which he claimed that for the last three
hundred years the Jesuits have been cor
rupting the youth of all nations, that
they have uniformly taught as morals a
set of doctrines that struck at the founda-
tions of human society; that they have
countenanced debauchery, theft, lying,
incest, robbery, and murder, and have
recognized no civil nor political obliga-
tions to the State which were not sub5r-
dinate to the interests of their order of
which they were the final judges. In
stead Of resorting to books which show
what this sect taught long ago in the 18th
and 18th centuries, M. Bert undertook to
show what they were teaching in France
now. He selected the " Compendauna of
Moral Theology" and the "Cas S of Con-
science, all by John Peter Curry, of the
Society of the Jesuits, and for thirty-fve
years one Of their most highly accredited
Professors of Theology. This C5mpendi-
I'M bears the official approval of the
Archbishop of Paris and of other high.
authorities: it is in the hands not only of
all the Jesuits, but is standard manual
of moral theology in Roman Catholic sem
inaries in all lands. It's authority there
fore as an exposition of the teachings of
the Jesuits no one can contest.
Now if any one wishes to see some spe-.
cimens of the teachings referred to he
may find them in the March number Of
Ha1pe1's Mdgozirle, where some pages
are taken up with extracts from this Com
Pe'adiuna as given by NJ Bert. 1t is to
this article we are indebted for the infor-
nation here communicated, and for much
of the language in which it is conveyed.
The writer says: at would be difficult
for any one who has not read Curry books
and verified the language quoted by M.
Bert, to believe it possible that such doe
trines as he will find there are not only
printed, but taught in schools of theolo-
gy by persons calling themselves Chris
tians, or that there is any race of people
so degraded in civilization as to listen to
them"
1t would extend this article too far 10
copy the extracts from the book referred
to. If they are not correctly and fairly
given, the fraud can be easily detected
and exposed to the confusion of its per
petrators. If they are true; if these are
the teachings of the Jesuits and others in
the Church of Rome; if such are the text
books in their seminaries, authorized and
commended by bishops, archbishops, car
diEals, and Popes, then it is the duty of all
men to regard their influence as a moral
leprosy. M. Bert and his party are right
In seeking to rescue France from the de-
moralizing pestilence which has poisoned
so many of her seats of learning. II these
extracts are fair exposition Of Jesuitical
casuistry, then it must be solemnly af-
tirmed that there is not a fundamental
question of morals in which they are not
rotten to the core and wherever they
prevail the frame of society must be dis
located.
But why should there be any doubt
as to the truth of accusations? The
thing asserted now is only what has been
proved against them for more then two
hundred years Were the citatio rs made
by Pascal from Escobar and others
witty calumnies?' Let his answer (in-
serted in another column of the Central
Presbyterian be read and pondered.
Besides all this, it is a we'll known fact
that Den Theology and the works of st.
Alphonsus Liguori are among the most
common and most highly commended in
Roman Catholic seminaries, both in Eu-
rope and this country. They are all
stored with the very same infamous cor
rupt doctrines as those cited from Curry.
And they are all chargeable with the
same indictment on another point noticed
by the writer in Harper'8 Magazine
He says" A very large proportion Of
the. Compendium Of M. Curry is too filthy
and indecent to be more than alluded to,
unless in the disguise of learned Ian
guage. We are unwilling to soil these
pages or disgust our readers with de-
tails which are inconceivably shocking"
" The fight M. Bert is making is a fight
tor freedom Of conscience and purity of
morals wherever the Jesuits have their
schools, and wherever it is desired that
stealing, lying, perjury, theft, and Grim
lnal lmpurity Of conduct should be
treated as crimes.
Allow me to express the hope that this
work Of M. Bert will be translated into
English, not for general circulation
surely, but that it may furnish additional
weapons for those who are in an especial
manner set for the defence of the qos-
pei, and whose bounden duty it is TO
warn their felIow.men against this
j