The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-24
POPE ON AMERICANISM.
Life Laid Down for Catholics Nay Be Gov.
erned BY Circumstances.
PRINCIPLE OF MORALS MUST BE INTACT


Baltimore. Md, February cs.---'rhe APP
proved translation OF the popc's letter to
Cardinal Gibbons, giving the papnl views
on "Amcricanism heretofore covered
briefly In the Associated Press cable dis
patches, was made public here today, His
holiness. commenting on the controversy
which has grown out of the French trans-
of the Society OF Paulists, distinctly
American order, says the rule Of life laid
down for Catholics by the vatican council
Is not OF such nature that IL can not
accommodate itsolf to the cxlgcncies OF
various times and places. The church has
at all times been what st, Pual said of
himself: II became all things TO all men
that l might save all" In regard TO the
ways OF living the church has been no.
customed to so yield that the divine prin-
ciples OF morals being left intact. she has
never neglected TO accommodate herself
To the character and genius OF the nations
which sho embraces. But, continues the
letter, In this present m1tter there In
great danger ana manifest opposition To
Catholic doctrine and discipline in the
opinion of the lovers of tho novelty that
allowance should be granted the faithful,
each one to follow out freely the lsatiny
oil HIS own mind and the trend of his own
proper activity, Such reasoning Ia evil
IDENTIFY faulty. No one should wish 20 de-
part from the infalliblc teaching and au-
| thority of tho church. The confounding Of
license with liberty, the passion for dis
GUSHING and pouring contempt upon any
| possible subject, the assumed right to
hold whatever opinion one pleases upon
any subject and TO set them forth In print
to tho world, have no wrapped minds in
darkness that there IL now greater need
OF the church's teaching office than ever
before. lest people become unmiudfui
both OF conscience and OF duty.
| The pope says that while he believes
there was no thought Of wrong or guile
In the opinions o! Father Hecker, YET
they certainly merit some degree OF sus-
picion. and he proceeds to point out NJ
length these opinions. which he regards
Ms inimical to the church authority and
as being heretical IN spirit.
Regarding the fact that the paulists
arc not required to take any special VOWS
| and that thcy believe that the rcligor
is utterly 4 acss or of little service tc
the church. sides being Injurious to tn,
Religious orders the pope remarks that
| such '.can not be the opinion of any
| one who has read the ANIMALS OF th'
| church. Did not your country. the Unite,
| stntes. derive the beginnings both of faith
and of culture from the children of these
religious families2 To ono of whom. Blu
very lately, thing greatly to your praise
you have decided that u stars' be public
iy erected"
Further along, however, the pope says
that II there be those who prefer to form
a body without the obligation OF VOWS
let them pursue auch course, but lie
them be careful not to set such stat
above the religious orders, He suggest
that t. osc who teach Catholicism as In
terpreted by Father Hccker be set npar
by the authority uf the bishops. for n
thinks there are fs,iiy Americans VIII
are separated from Catholicism by ignor
ance. and who might lie drawn to TN
church II this truth were set before then
lin friendly and familiar way.
The pope. while finding himself unable
10 approve the views which go to make VI
"AmericanisIn," yot takes no oAeections I
the name and obseryca that II the doctrine
above referred 10 are not In reason Their
can be no doubt that the bishops OF Amer
lea will be the first to condemn them.