Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-26
CHURCH AND "a

After condemnln anarchlsm and luke.
warmness he continues:
CHURCH AND STATE.
These, then, are the things taught by
the Catholic Church concerning the con-
stitution and government of the state.
Concerning these sayings and DEGREES, If
a man will only judge dispassionately no
form OF government is, per sc, condemned
so long as it has nothing repugnant to
Catholic doctrines and is able, if wisely
and justly managed, to preserve the state
in the best condition. There is no cause
that any one should condemn the church
as being too restricted in g%entleness or
inimlcal to that liberty which is natural
and legitimate. In truth, the church
judges it not lawful that the various
kinds of divine worship should have the
same right as the true religion, still does
not, therefore, condemn those governors of
states who, for the sake of acquiring some
great good or preventing some great ill,
patiently bear with n and customs,
so that each kind of religion has its place
in the state. Indeed, the church is wont
diligently to take care that no n
be compelled against his will to
embrace the Catholic faith. For a
similar reason, the church cannot ap-
prove of that liberty which generates q
contempt Of the most sacred laws of God
n put, away the obedience due to | giti-
mate 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 the slaves of error
and evil desires, the worst of masters.
Ii in relation to the state it presides
wisely over the citizens, serves the
faculty of augmentipg public advantages
and defends the public interest from alien
rule, this blsmeless liberty, worthy of
man, he church approves above all, and
has never ceased striving and c~ontending
to keep firm and whole among the people.
In very truth whatever things in the
state chiefly avail for the common safety
whatever have been u~sefully instituted
against the license OF princes, consult
ing all the interests of the people; what
ever forbid the governing auth lrity to il.
wade into municipal or domestic affairs
whatever avail to present the dignity
and the character of man in preserv-
ing the equality OF rights in
individual c~itizens-of all these
things, the monuments of former ages,
witnesses the Catholic Church to have
always been either the author, the pro.
moter or the guardian. Ever, therefore,
consistent with herself, if, on the one
hand, she rejects i~mmoderate liberty
which, both in the case of individuals and
peoples, results in license or in servitude
on the other hand, she willingly and with
pleasure embraces those happier circum,
stances which the age brings, if they truly
contain the prosperity Of this life, which
is, as it were, a stage in the Journey Il
that other which is TO endure everlast
ingly. Therefore, what they say that the
church is jealous Of, the more modern
political systems ~repudiste in q mass, ant
whatever the disposition of these time
has brought forth is an inane and con
temptible calumny.
The madness of opinion it indeed repu
dates. 1t reproves wicked plans Of sedi
ton, and especially that habit CT mind il
which the beginnings OF a voluntary de
parting from God are visible. But sine,
every true thing must necessarily procee
from God, whatever Of truth is by searcl
attained the church acknowledges as
certain token OF the divine mind, an
since there is in the world nothing whicl
can take away belief in the doctrines
divinity handed down and many thing
which confirm this, and since every find
ing of truth may impel man to tn
/, knowledge or praise of God himself, there
fore whatever may happen to extend tn
range OF knowledge the church will Away
willingly and joyfully accept, and she wiz
, as is her o in the case of other deparr
ments of knowledge, studiously encoura
and promote those alao which are col
cerned with the investigation of natures i
which studies il the mind finds anythir
e new the church is not in opposition. Sh
igh.s not against the search after mol
things for the grace and convenience
life. Nay, a very foe to inertness an
j sloth, she earnestly wishes that the talen'
e of men should, by being cultivated an
f exercised, bear still richer fruits. She a
fords Indictment to every sort of art an
o craft, and by her own virtue. Directir
by her own perfection all the pursuits
!. those thing to virtue and salvation, 81
8 strives to prevent man from turning asit
his intelligence and industry from &c
and heavenly things.
After quoting the action of Catholics
former times, even under the Roman en-
pire, the Pope continues to exhort Il
faithful to renewed efforts in the polite
world. NOW, indeed, in these days it
= as well to renew these examples of OIL
forefathers. For Catholics, indeed,
many as are worthy of the name, befo
u all things, it is necessary to be, and to
u willing to be, regarded as most loving Sol
ID of the church; whatever is inconsisteI
with this good report without hesitate
u to reject; TO use popular institutions
far as honestly can be to the advantage
truth and justice; to labor that liberty
action shall not transgress the bounds @
y dained by the law of nature and of Go,
d so to work that the whole of public Ii
n shall be transformed into, az we ha'
II called it, q Christian image n likenes
e The means to seek the ends can scarcely
laid down upon one uniform plan, sin
9 these must suit places and times very d
q fereDt from each other. Nevertheless,
the first place, let concord of Wills be pr
served, and the likeness OF things to
& DONE sought for, and each will be attaine
The best of all shall consider the admor
e tons of the Apostolic See. Let all unde
stand that the integrity Of the Cathol
profession can by no means be reconcile
with opinions approaching toward na
uralism or r%ationalism, Of which Il
sum total is to upset Christis
S institutions altogether, and to establis
rs the supremacy Of man, Almighty CT
d being pushed one eide. Likewise, 1t is u
n lawful to follow one line of duty in pl
vate and smother in pubic, SO that Il
d authority of the church shall be observe
e IN private and Stunned in public, for th
70 would be to join together things hone
and disgraceful, and to make a man f sht
battle with himself when, on The contrar
he ought always to be consistent vii
q himself, and never, in the least thing
manner OF living, decline from Christis
It virtue. But If inquiry is made about pri
ciples merely political, concerning the be
1t form of government, of civil regulations
II one kind or another concerning the
~ 4 l.-- - " =. II