Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-03-14
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND'S LET
TER

Copies of the "O5servatore Romano"
containing the full text of the letter
that Archbishop Ireland addressed to
the Pope III acknowledgment of the lat
ter's pronouacemeus upon American
ism" have beeo received il New York.
Ii is understood that Archbishop Ire
lands letter was published at the i'm
IN ediate instance OF Inc Holy See. The
letter is in French, and the full traDsla-
ton is ss follows:
Most Holy Father:
Immediately or reading the letter
which Your Holiness has just address
I'd to His EmiEenCe, Cardinal Gibbons,
and 10 the other members Of the Amer.
icsn episcopate, / hasten 10 thank Your
! Holiness for this act of esteem sn0 love
toward the Catholics Of the United
States rs well as our entire American
ration.
New lighv hns come; misunderstood
ings are no more. Now We can even
def1e the errors which certain ones''
have wished to cloak with the name oi
"Americarism" and define the truth
which alone Americans call "Americen-
lsln"
Moreover, so clear and precise are
the distinctions and explanations given
in the apostolic letter that the danger
which was not understood by all the
people Of the United S.ates-a d&neer
which l, myself, confess. did believe
might srise-is no longer possible.
| Seeing the astounding confusion OF
ideas and the subsequent controversies
started, especially in France, about the
book, WE du Pere Recker," The ex-
tent Of which can be measured by the
apostolic letter, I can 10 longer be
bind ia the fact that it was . necessity
| for the Chief pastor TO raise his voice to
eplighten aGd pacilg mems minds.
Assarodiy with sll the strength OF my
soul. l repudjate and l condemn every
opinion which the apostolic letter repu-
dates aud condemns--aIl those false
and dangerous opinion5 10 which. as
the letter says, certain persons give the
name OF Amoricanism." l repadiate
and [ condemn those opinions without
any exception literally, As your holi-
ness repudiates suj condemns them ,aud
I repudiate and condemn 5bem witc oil
the greater readiness and heartfelt JOY
because my Catholic faith and my ur-
2erstandipgs of the teechings and prao'
tices of the holy church never for single
| instant permitted ne to open my soul
to such extravagarce. The whole
enjscoDato of The United Stetes, in
their own names and il tho names Ci
the people, are ready to repudiato and
condemn tboss errors. We cannot but
he Indignant thst such al injury has
! been done 10 our bishops, to our faith
| ful people, to our nation in designating
by the word "Americanism," as certain
ones have done, such errors and ex'
travagances as these.
Most Holy Father, it is the enemies
! of the church in America and the faith
less Interpreters OF the faith who I'M
agine" thai there exis.s or who desire
TO establish in the United States s
church differing in one iota from the
noly and universal church, which other
nations recognize, and which Rome IT.
self. infallble guardian OF the revela-
ton of Jesus Christ, recognizes or can
recognize.
Begging Your Holiness graciously to
accept this expression Of the sentiment
of nay love and devotion, and TO be-
stow upon me the favor of the apostolic
blessing, l have the honor to be Your
Holiness's devoted son,
JOHN IRELAND,
Archbishop of st. Paul.