The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09
AMERICAN CATHOLICISM.
BRUNETIERE GIVES HIS ACCOUNT
OF II To THE Pore.

An Essay That VIII stir Up Rcactlonary Cath.
otics-Thc Schroeder Case n ncomernus FOR
the Opponents of Leo KILLS American
P~oicJ-Gcrman untrlEues Laid Hare.
ROME, Dec. pm. Ferdinand Brunctiera.
tho well-known editor of the RerUe 6es Deur
Mondes. will publish on Jan. 1 a study OF Ca.
tholicism in tho United States. H. is the result
of his journeys 10 America and to Rome. In
America he has examined tho problem Of ma.
tionalities. In Rome he has found out tho ideas
and intentions Of Leo MIL, of Cardinal Ram.
polla. and Of the court Of Rome. In the United
States the Americans excited NJ. Brunetiere's
admiration. Cardinal Gibbons, Mgr. Ireland,
Mgr. Keane, tho Bishops, Father MagniCn OF
Baltimore, seemed TO him to BIO ideal leaders
for tho Church. He has seen rising behind
them and by their side n group of Germans
whose demeanor and tendencies constitute in
his opinion a danger for the natural and fruitful
development of Catholicism. NJ. Brunetiere
has made known his uneasiness and fears to
the Holy Father. He has found that Leo NIII.
has q detailed and enlightened understanding
OF the situation. The Pope is weary Of Amcri.
can dissensions, he is weary of the German cam.
paigns. he is weary Of tho periodical incidents
which lead Europeans 10 join the reactionary
party in opposing the realization of tho Roman
Papacy's central ideas. The Schroeder case
especially has displeascd him. Tho Germans
anu inc IrlenQS OF inc ueTulanS OF tOm6 nnd
dragged the Vatican into a difficult position In
favor of the w ashington University professor.
When, informed by Mgr. Martinelli and Car
dinal Gibbons, Leo NH. came to understand
tho Schroeder case, he was deeply, painfully
disappointed. IL would seem that back OF the
action Of the reactionary party they have dis
covered tho parallel movements of German
diplomacy, just as they did in tho serious affair
OF the Cahenslyism. Leo XIII. Immediately
p.---- III =.
ter to Mgr. Martinoln directing him to carry
out the decision taken against Mgr. Schroeder
by the majority Of the Washington scholastic
commit tee. Tho German newspapers, at tho
moment that NJ. Brunetiere was with the Pope
at Rome, announced the appointment OF Mgr.
at the Academy Of Munster in. Westphalia.
1t is natural that in Roman circles this inior-
German Government has lent a hand to this pro-
motion. Consequently there was an understand
those collaboration and fusions seemed strange.
~ significant. 1t is difficult to believe that the
made. It would be the first time that in cir.
cumstances SO strange the Ministry at Berlin.
had dsecreed such an Important appointment.
Well-informed persons are rather inclined to look
ins a t fnls ee scsn IS in "a t diss saapocd + me eaas. Of IN G ordar
that the defeat may have the semblance of q
, triumph p c,o These - t sSse Tadf n sF .bp peir rhoIm light bma
sessed by the newspapers which most violently
pleaded tho cause Of Mgr. Schroeder against
and the Scholastic Committee o; the Washing.
ton University. What is less doubtful is tho
pressed his panied astonishment at the sight Of
the polemicel attitude Of the German news
Schroeder case, carried indecency and andacity
to the point of embittering the question and Of
the innocent victim Of American intolerance and
eXslusiveenessi Leo Mi. could not help being
BISHOP W Who .n after Mgr. Conatys's lecture i in the the
meeting. expressed their amusement at seeing
:;hc Germans compromise the authority of Rome
Under these circumstances NJ. Brunetiere's
reception by the Pope was no cold one. Did it
what NJ. Brunetiere is striving against, what he
will attack. it is said, in his promised article. is
Schroeder sSh e%t was the '% raiiyi kas" ppoint. thu" that r msp:
tionary eeciesiastical policy which wishes to
terosts of the Church. The Vatican, and the
radically different direction the fusion Of ali
nationaiities into ono American body. Rome
organizations, just as she has never liked tho
struggle of races, the strange struggles be-
Around che Vatican, IN the European colo
mics nha esPecihpl nist the Do Belgian sra ATstF roc
upheld the anti:American cause: These groups
worked hand in hand with Cardinals. pralates.
s sns Aim %asi%s. and dn Z tno SSlG not ct w Sasis9 3nd iSSlsi
orthodoxy, they slandered, Amcricanism as, a
school or hereSy, OF pestlence, and or revo'u-
tion. 1t was the duty of the Papacy to close
that school, to extinguioh that fire. These
groups have played their last trump In trying to
Holy Sec, The coalition has failed. There Is
great wrath in those circles, but henceforth they
will deceive no one as to tho intentions of Romo
and the direction given to Catholicism in the
United States. But they do not give up their
efforts. Knowing that Leo XIII. has received
NJ. Brunetiere graciously. informed of NJ. Bru-
%netieres ideas about the Church in the United
States, well aware of his design to put Into shape
his impartial observations and tudicious COM
ments In an eloquent essay, they are trying to
spread the report that the editor of the Repus
des Deur Mondcs has seen. America only
through the eyes Of tho AmericanizinR party.
learned writer. He has the gift Of attacking as
well as that of defending himself. The moro
moderation and gentleness he shows in his arti-
Gle, the more likely Is he to press his point to
the end II tho Germans and reactionaries try to
pervert his ideas and intentions. 1t will DO
interesting to observe tho attitude of parties
in the presence of this statement of facts. Hith-
erto it was only the limited public of Euror oen
vestries that took an interest in the col test.
After M: Brunetiere's article appears 1t will DO
the whole republic of letters, as they used to say
philosophy at Passy. The Holy See had al.
case by the violence, the unfairness, and pas
sion OF the German newspapers; we shall sec
whether the conscientious and disinterested
study of M. Brunetiere Will let loose a like
storm. If 1t does, Rome perhaps will seize the
opportunity to put n decisive end to coalitions
opposed to the influence and the interests OF the
Church. INNoMINATo.