The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-06-29
THE POPE'S ENCYCLICAL.
It Shows the Pope's Love for
America, Explains His Position
on the School Question, Eulo-
gizes Monsignor Satolli, Etc.


gizes Monsignor Satolli, Etc.
BALTIMORE, June Fl. - Cardinal
Gibbons has given 10 the United Press
a copy of the official translation OF the
much discussed cncycllcal letter from
Pope Leo on the school question. 1t
shows the Pope's love for America,
eulogizes Monsignor Satolll, gives the
two-fold purpose of his mission, his
position on the school question eX-
planned to the alchbIshops OF New
York, misunderstood by others and
endorsed by the Pope, who declares 1t
to be in harmony with the action OF
the counsel of Baltimore, which re-
mains in its integrity. After referring
TO the action of Satolll al the meeting
of Archbishops in New York, when he
laid before the meeting certain prop
ositions on the school question, the
Pope says:
"But these propositions of our del
egate having been inopportunely made,
the public minds were at once excited
and controversies started afresh, which
through false interpretations and
through malignant imputations scat
tered abroad in newspapers, grew more
widespread and more serious. Then
certain prelates of your country,
whether displeased with the lnterpre-
tations put upon some OF these prop
ostions, or fearing harm to souls which
it seemed to them might thence re-
suit, confded to us the reason Of their
anxiety, and we, knowing that the
salvation of souls is supreme law to
be ever assiduously borne in mind by
us; wishing moreover to give you an
other proof of our solicitous affection
requested that each of you should III
4 private letter fully open his mind to
us on the subject, which was diligently
complied with by each one OF you.
From examination of these letters 1t
became manifest 20 US that some OF
you found in the propositions no rea-
son for apprehension, while 10 others
it seemed to partially abrogate dlsclp-
linary law concerning the schools en-
acted by the Council of Baltimore,
and they feared that diversity OF IN
,erpretations put upon them would en-
gender said discussions which would
prove detrimental to the Catholic
schools. After carefully weighing the
matter we are ultimately convinced
that such interpretations are totally
alien from the meaning of our dele
gates as they are assured they are far
from the mind of this Apostolic See.
The principal propositions offered by
him were drawn from the DEGREES OF
the Third Plenary Council of Baltl-
more, and especially declare that the
Catholic schools are to be most sedu-
lousy promoted, and that it is to be
left to the judgment and conscience of
the ordinary to decide according to
the circumstances when it is lawful
and when unlawful to attend public
schools Now, if the words of any
speaker are so to be taken that the
latter part of his discourse shall be un-
derstood to agree and not to disagree
with what he had SAID before, it is
surely unbecoming and unjust SO to
explain his last utteranCes as to make
them disagree with the preceding ones,
h,c ln
ing of the writer was not at all left
obscure. For while presenting his
propositions to the distinguished meet
ing in New York, he expressly de-
clared Gas is evident of the minutes)
his admiration of the zeal manifested
by the bishops of North America in
most wise the DEGREES enacted by the
Third Plenary Council of Baltimore
for the promotion of Catholic instruc-
ton of the young. He added more
over that these DEGREES in as far as
they contain a general rule Of action,
are faithfully to be observed, and that
although public schools are not to be
entirely condemned (since cases may
occur as council itself had foreseen in
which it is lawful to attend them) still
every endeavor should be made to
multiply Catholic schools, and to
bring them to perfect equipment. But
in order that in matters of so grave i'm
portance there may remain no further
room for doubt or for disSension OF
opinions, as we have already declared
in our letter of the 25rd OF May, OF
last year, to our venerable brethren
archbishop and bishops of the province
of New York, SO we again, as far as
need be, declare that the DEGREES
which Baltimore councils, agreeable to
the directions OF the Holy See. have
enacted concerning the parochia
schools, and whatever else has been
prescribed by Roman pontiffs, whether
directly or through sacred congrega.
tons concerning the same matter, are
to be steadfastly observed"
Hnu faehla ba