The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-02-15
STAND By THE CHURCH.
p. pe LeO's Advice to the Faithful
in America.

NEW YORK, Feb. 10.-The most i'm
portant encyclical, from a worldly point
of view at least, issued by Leo Nil.
since his accession to the throne of the
pontitf, reached this city yesterday, and
was made the subject of dis
course in and about several Of
the Roman Catholic churches. 1t
is long document, dealing with the re-
latlons OF church to state, and Will be
Interesting to frotestants no less than
to Catholics from the tact that it defines
the duty of the Catholic citizen, his OBJ
legations to his church, and the extent
OF his obligations to the state.
The letter argues that all power comes
from God. States that neglect God in
the administration of their affairs, the
Pope contends, cannot long remain safe,
because, when Christian ms itutions
and morals fall away the principal foun
dations of human society must crum-
be" He says that ii the natural law
ordalns that Catholics should pro-
tect with particular affection the
land on which they were
born and reared, with greater reason
ought they to he animated with similar
sentiments toward the church, the city
Of the living God. from whom she had
received her constitution. The native
land In which we have received this
mortal life is, then, to be loved, but it is
necessary to love with more ardent
love the church, to which we owe the
immortal life of the soul, 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 man. If the
laws OF the state are IN open con-
tradiction OF the divine law,' says Leo
MIL, 'If they contain anything preju-
diclsl to the church, or are hostile to
the duties imposed by religion, or vio-
late in the person of the supreme
ponliH 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 otiense against religion re-
coils on the state"
The pope believes, and 80 advises,
in politics, which IS inseparahlv bound
up with the laws of morality and relig-
ious duties, men ought always and in
the first place to take care to serve the
interest, of Catholicism. AS soon as
these interests are seen TO be in danger
all differences should cease between
them, SO that, united in the same
thoughts and the same designs, they
may undertake the protection and de-
ense of religion, the common and great
end to which all things should be re-
ierred."
1t is duty assigned to the church
by God" continues the encvclical, ITO
offer opposition whenever the laws of
the state injure religion, and to end4av-
or earnestly to intuse the spirit OF the
gospel into the laws ard institutions of
peoples"
''Jhese principles contained the rule
according to which every Catholic ought
to model his public life-that is to say,
whenever it is lawful in the eyes of the
church to take part in public affairs,
men of recognized probity, and who
promise TO merit well of Catholicism,
ought to be supported. and there can
be no case in which i. would be per-
missible to prefer to tEsm men who are
hostile TO religion"