St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-10-18
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND Dis
CUSSES POPE LEO,S LATEST
MESSAGE.
GLAD ROME HAS SPOKEN.
PART CATHOLICS SHOULD TAKE
IN RELIGIOUS CONGRESSES
SET FORTH.
DOES NOT OPPOSE THE ACTION
On the Other Hand, the Church
Owes 1t to Herself to Par
ticipate.

Archbishop Ireland has received
copy of the letter of Pope Leo, sent
to Mgr. SatolM. bearing on religious
congresses. The document is type
written, in Latin, and addressed to
Mgr. Satolh. 1t simply states that
the knowledge of such conventions
being held has come to the attention
of the pope and he expresses the con-
viction that it would be better, per-
haps, for Catholics to meet separa te-
ly. Following is translation:
Venerable Brother, health and apos-
tolic benediction. We have learned
that IN the United States. of America
conventions are sometimes held in
which people assemble promiscuously,
Catholics, as well as those of other
denominations, to treat upon religion.
as well as upon correct morals.
In this we recognize the desire for
religious things by which this people
is animated more zealously from day to
day. But although these promiscuous
conventions have unto this day been
tolerated with prudent silence, IL
would, nevertheless, seem more advisa7
BILE that the Catholics should hold
their conventions separately, and that.
lest the utility of these conventions
should result simply to their own ben
derstanding that the admittance should
be open to all, including those who are
outside of the church. Whilst we con-
slider it incumbent upon our apostolic
office, venerable brother, to bring this
to your knowledge, We are also pleased
by our recommendation to promote the
practice OF the Paulist fathers, who
prudently think fit to speak publicly to
our dissenting brethren in order to
explain Catholic dogmas and answer to
objections against them.
If every bishop In his own diocese
will promote this practice, and a fre-
will be very pleasing and acceptable to
us, for We are confident that not o
small benefit for the Welfare of souls
will arise therefrom.
Wishing you in the meantime ven-
erable brother, the gifts of divine prov
idence, we impart to you with the
most loving spirit the apostolic bene-
diction, a proof Of our special love.
Given in Rome at st. Peters, Sept
Is, 1895, the eighteenth year of our pom
tificate Leo XIII.
Archbishop Ireland in an inter-
view with the G o b e, said: The
words of Pope Leo are in no mannela
of means a condemnation of parlia-
ments of religions. He merely pre-
scribes the methods or conditions
under which Catholics may take part
in them. He deems unadvisable the
promiscuouS assembling of Catholics,
with men of all form of religion.
Buddhists and Mohammedans as
we'll as non-Catholic Christians,
upon the same platform for the dis
cussion of religious questions The
pope, no doubt, somewhat fears, as
many others did and do, that from
such proniscuous gatherings the i'm
pressions go out into the public mind
that all forms of religion are looked
upon as Of equal value and equal
sufficiency. The Catholics who par
ticipated in the Chicago parliament
Of religions were not without their
misgivings as to the peril of ilnpres-
sions Of this kind But circum-
stances did not suggest or alley
other arrangements than proni:-
cuouS assemblag ges-and in view of
the general good expected from their
participation in the congress, Catho-
lies did not keep themselves aloof.
satisfying their consciences that all
Things would be made right by their
emphatlc and repeated declarations
that the principles of the Catholic
faith remained intact and nothing
done or said should be taken as nlac-
ing other religions on the same foot
ing as the Catholic. But now when
congresses of parliaments of reE-
gT'ons are becoming frequent and
seem destined to be permanent in
stltutions, it is felt that such care
ought to be taken by Catholics that
not even the most delicate and
scrupulous conscience among the
chlldren OF the church be alarmed
| or that the most unthinking nom
Catholic be led to misapprehend the
catholic position. Hence the words
OF warning coming from the
sovereign pontiff.
The pope's words are:
1t would seem more advisable that
Natholics mold their own meetings
apart; but in order that the usefulness
thereo1 De not confined to Catholics. &C
cess is to be given to eyervhodv
whether he be Catholic or one son,
arated from the Catholic faith.
Congresses of religions will continue
to be had and Catholics may take mart
In them, under certain we'll defined con
dltlons. Catholics will hold their meet
lnss during the same period of time
ana on the same grounds as the repre-
sentatlveS Of other faiths or religions
put In nails OF their own marking, in
thls way their own doctrinal exclusive
ness and yet allowing to others the ad
vantage Of hearing their discussio,,s
ALI the results that were ever exnecte,,
from congresses of religions remain.
Such as the allowing comma ra tive
studies of the several faiths. The ~
hibiting to the world the funda mental
truths scattered through all of then,
and the good points of each one. al
though in SO many of them those noints
be fragmentary and incomplete. And.
at the same time, no Catholic, whoever
ne be, will have room for complaint or
Will hnd reason for being abssnt from
the congress. The Catholic attendance
at congresses will in this manner he
larger than 1t otherwise would have
been. Whenever the religions of the
world appear in state and voice their
beliefs the Catholic church owes 1t 10
| herself to appear and to speak so as to
give public testimony to the compIs te-
ness of truth which she processes TO
hold, and to tell the nations that she
| lives and is destined to live through
lagos
Much agitation is at the present
time being had in Europe over the prop
osition to hold a great congress of re-
| ligions in Paris during the exposition
of 1900. The idea of a Paris congress
of religions has sprung from the great
congress at Chicago two years ago; 1t
received much impetus from Rev John
Henry Burrows, the inspiring and di-