The Opelousas courier., 1885-12-05
Progress and the Pope.
THE CHURCH NOT OPPOSED 10 THE 81

| Leo XIII on the Christian ConstltuClon
of States appears very different in it's
full form from the cable condensation
already published. Instead of con-
demning in any way modern cfviliza-
ton in States as they exist at present,
the Pope highly approves of all real
progress and true freedom. 1t ism
short an exactreversal of the policy pur-
sued by the late Plus TX, whose ency-
clicals invariably condemned modern
civilization as atheistic and pagan. In
order to show this, a few extracts will
suffice. After eondemning anarchism
and lawlessness, Leo XIII continues
"These, then, are things taught by
the Catholic Church concerning the
constitution and government Of the
State. Concerning these sayings and
DEGREES, if men will only judge dispas-
sionately, no form of government is per
Sc condemned SO long as it has nothing
repugnant to Catholic doctrine, and is
able, if wisely and justly managed, to
preserve the State In the best condition.
Nor is it per Sc TO be condemned wheth-
er people have o greater or less share
in the government; for at certain times
and with the guarantee of certain laws
such participation may appertain not
only to usefulness, but even to the
duty of citizens. Moreover, there is no
justice that any n should condemn
the church as being too restricted in
gentleness, or inimical to that liberty
which is natural and legitimate. In
truth, the church judges it not lawful
| thai unrsarang 1~tr1a IF l1usna him
should have the same right as true, re-
ligion. Still it does not therefore con-
denim those Governors of a State who,
for the sake of acquiring some great
good or preventing some great i'll, pa
tiently bear with the manners and GUS
toms, so that each kind of religion has
it's place in the State. Indeed, the
church is wont diligently to take heed
that no one be compelled against his
will to embrace the Catholic faith. For
similar reasons the church cannot APP
prove of that. liberty which generates
contempt of the most sacred laws of
God, and puts away obedience to legi-
innate power, for this is license rather
than liberty. On the other hand that
liberty is natural and to be sought
which, if it be considered in relation
to the individual, suffers not men to be
slaves of errors and evil desires, the
worst of masters, if, in relation to the
State, it presides wisely over citizens,
serves the faculty Of augmenting pub
lie advantages and defends the public
interest from alien rule. This blame
less liberty, worthy of man, the church
approves above all, and has never,
ceased striving and contending to keep
firm and whole among the people. In
very truth, whatever things in the
State chiefly avail for common safety,
whatever have been usefnlly institut-
ed against the license of princes, con
sulting all the interests of the people,
whatever forbids the governing author.
ity to invade municipal or domestic
affairs, whatever avails to preserves
the dignity and character of man inl
preserving the equality of rights in in-
dividual citizens-of all these things
the monuments of former ages witness
the Catholic Church TO have always
been either the author, promoter or
guardian. Ever, therefore, consistent
with herself, il on the one hand she re-
jects immoderate liberty which both in
case of individuals and peoples results
in license or in servitude, on the other
hand she willingly and with pleasure
embraces these happier circumstances
which the age brings, if they truly con-
tain the prosperity of this life, which
is, as il were, q stage in the journey to
that other which is TO endure everlast-
ingly. Therefore what they say, that
the church is jealous of more modern
political systems and repudiates in
mass whatever the disposition of these
times has brought forth, is an inane
and contemplate calumny. Madness
of opinion IL indeed repudiates. Tt
repr0ves the wicked plans of sedition,
and especially that habit of mind in
which the beginnings of voluntary de-
parture from God are visible. But
since every true thing must necessari-
ly proceed from God, whatever of truth
is by search attained the church o
kn0wledges as q certain token of the
Divine mind; and since there is in the
world nothing which can take away
belief in doctrines divinely handed
down. and many things which confirm
this, and siaee every dnding of truth
may impel man to the knowledge or
praise Of God himself, therefore what.
ever may happen to extend the range
Of knowledge, the church will always
willingly and joyfnlly accept, and she
will, as ii her won't in case of other der
partments of knowledge, studionsly p
courage and promote those also which
are concerned with the investigation
of Nature, In which studies, If the mind
find anything new, the church is not
in opposition. She fights not against
search after more things for the grace
and convenience of life. Nay, a very
foe to inertness and sloth, she earnestly
wishes that the talents of men should,
by being cultivated and exercised, bear
still richer fruits She affords incite-
ments to every sort of art and craft,
and BY her own virtue, directing by her
own perfection ali pursuits Of those
things To virtue and salvation, she
strives TO prevent man from turning
aside his intelligence and industry from
God and heavenly things.D
After quoting the action Of Catholics
in former times, sven under the Roman
Empire, the Pope continues to exhort
the faithful to renewed efforts In the
political world
"Now, indeed, in these daysit is well
to renew these examples of our fore
fathers. For Catholics, indeed. as
many as are worthy of the name, before
"a N - 1919