The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-04

our heart than to have those who are
separated from the fold of Christ return
to it, but in no other way than the way
pointed out by Christ.
CATHOLIC RULE OF LIFE.
The rule of life laid down for Catho-
lies is not OF such nature that it cannot
accommodate itself to the exigencies of
various times and places. The church
has. guided by her divine Master, kind
and mcrciiul spirit, for which reason from
the very beginning, she has been what
St Paul said OF himself: II became all
things to all men that might save all.
History proves clearly that the apostol-
ic see to which has been intrusted the
mission not only of teaching, but OF gov
crning the whole church, has continued
lin one and the same doctrine, one and
the same sense and one and the same
judgment" Const. de Eide, chapter iv.
But i'll regard to the ways of living,
she has been accustomed to so yield that
the divine principle OF morals being kept
! intact, she has never neglected to accom-
modatc herself to the character and ge-
MUS OF the nations which she embraces
Who can doubt that she will act in
this same spirit again ii the salvation OF
souls requires it? In this matter the
church must be the Judge, not private
men, who are often deceived by the ap-
pcarance OF right. In this, all who wish
to escape the blame OF our predecessor,
Plus the Sixth, must concur. He con-
dcmncd as injurious to the church and
the spirit OF God who guides her, the doc
trine contained in proposition xxviii, OF
the synod OF Pistola. that the discipline
made and approved by the church should
be submitted to examination, as, ii the
church could frame a code OF laws use
less or heavier than human liberty can
bear"
But, beloved son. in this present matter
OF which we are speaking there is even
greater danger and a more manifest
opposition to Catholic doctrine and dis
E'P'''le III tiidt ol)lHloli Oh tnc lovers OF
novelty according to which they hold
such liberty should be allowed in the
church that her supervision and watch
iuncss being in some sense lcsscned. al
lowancc be granted the faithful. each one
to follow out more freely the leading OF
his own mind and the trend OF his own
proper activity. They are OF the opinion
that such liberty has its counterpart in
the newly given civil freedom which is
now the right and the foundation OF al
most every secular state.
In the apostolic letters concerning the
constitution of states. addressed by us to
the bishops of the whole church we dis
cusscd this point at length and there set
forth the difference existing between the
church. which is divine society, and all
other social and human organization
which depend simply upon the free will
and choice of men.
1t IS well then. to particularly direct
attention TO the opinion which serves as
the argument i'll behalf of this greater
liberty sought for and recommended to
Catholics.
LICENSE AND LIBERTY.
1t is alleged that now the Vatican can
decree concerning the infalliblc teaching
authority of the Roman pontiff, having
been proclaimed that nothing further on
that score can & i've any solicitudc and
accordingly, since that has been safe
guarded and put beyond question, wider
and freer field both for thought and ac-
ton lies open to each one. But such rca-
soning is evidently faulty, since. If yc are
to come to any conclusion from the in
alliblc teaching OF the church. it should
rather be that no one should wish to de-
part from it. and, moreover, that the
minds OF all being leavcned and directed
thereby, greater security from private
error would be enjoyed by ALL And, iur.
ther those who avail themselves of such
way OF reasoning seem to depart seri-
ously from the everything wisdom OF the
most higl-which wisdom, since it was
pleased to set forth by most solemn de-
cision the authority and supreme teach
ing rights OF this apostolic scc-wllcd
that decision precisely in order to safe
guard the minds OF the ch,rcll's children
from the dangers Of these present times.
These dangers, viz. the confounding OF
license with liberty. the passion for dis
cussing and pouring contempt upon any
possible subject. the assumed right to
hold whatever opinions one plcascs upon
any subject and to set them forth in print
to the world. have SO wrapped minds in
darkness that there is now greater need
OF the churchs teaching office than ever
before. lest people become unmindfu.
both of conscience and OF duty.
We, indeed, have no thought OF reject
ing everything that modern industry and
study have produced: so far from it that
we welcome to the patrimony of truth
and to an widening scope OF public
well-being whatsoever helps toward the
progress OF learning and virtue. Vet all
OF this, to be OF any solid beneficiary. to
have real existence and growth. can
only be on the condition OF recognizing
the wisdom and authority OF the church.