St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-16
THE ENC YCLICAL.

Looking at it from worldly point of
view at least, the most important ency-
clical issued by Pope LEO XIII. since
his accession to the throne of the pontiff,
and one of the most important in the
history of ecclesiastical DEGREES, is the
document that reached this country last
week, in which Catholics are instructed
by the pope in civil duties. 1t is
equally interesting to Protestants no
less than to Catholics, for in dealing
with the relations of church to state the
encyclical letter defines the duty of the
Catholic citizen. And while the papal
document is evidently intended to
refer mainly to the affairs of Italy, it is
so general in its terms that it is rele-
want to all countries, and to all Catholics,
in whatever part of the globe they
may reside. The letter starts out with
the argument that inaSmuch as all power
comes from God, the administration of
state affairs that neglects God cannot
long remain safe, because ''when Chris
tian morals and institutions fail away
the principal foundations of human So
ciety must crumble." The pope saws
that if the natural law ordains that
Catholics should protect with particular
affection the land in which they were
born and reared, with greater reason
ought they to be animated with similar
sentiments toward the church. the CITY
of the living God, from whom she had
received her constitution. The native
land i'll which we have received this
mortal life is then to beloved. but il is
necessary to love with more ardent
love the church tn which we owe
the immortal life of the souI.
because it is right to prefer
the welfare of the soul to the
welfare of the body, and to regard our
duties toward God as more sacred than
our duties toward men. ''If the laws of
the state are in open contradiction of
the divine law says the-pope; ''if thew
command anything prejudicial to the
church, or are hostile to duties imposed
by religion, or violate in the person of the
supreme pOntitf the authority of Jesus
Christ. then, indeed, it is duty to resist
them and crime to obey them--a crime
fraught with injury to the state itself.
For every offense against religions re-
coils on the state. : = 70 love the two
Netherlands, the earthly and the heay-
emily, but in such manner that the love
of the heavenly county prevails over
that of the other, and that human laws
are not preferred to the law of God
such is the essential duty of Christians,
from which spring, as from their source,
all the other duties." Then follows an
extended reStatement of the claims of
infallibility in matters of faith. He
recognizes the difficulty in the admins
tratlon of church government, because
the church rules people in all parts of
the world, different in race and man
ners, and each subject TO their own
national laws, involving double obedi-
ence to the civil and religious power.
He announces that the church approves
OF all governments that respect religion
and divine law. but is Indifferent to
parties: and ''tO seek 10 engage the
church. in the Quarrels of parties, and
to attempt to make use of its support to
triumph more easily over adversaries,
is to commit an indiscreet abuse of re-
iigion.''
The pope believes, however, in poll.
tics, and i: is what he has to say OH this
point that will most interest American
citizens. He says: "In politics. which
are inseparably bound up with the laws
Of morality and religious duties, men