The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-04
Liberty and License Defined
by the Holy Father.
scRIP1URAL ADMoAl1IOHs ARE CITED.
The Message Urges Adherence
to Original Doctrines.

The following is the full text OF an APP
proved translation OF the letter of Pope
. Leo NH. to Cardinal Gibbons on
"Americanism, the Latin original having
been received recently by Cardinal Glib
bons, to whom it was forwarded by Car
dinal Rampolla, the papal secretary OF
state:
To Our Beloved Son. James, Cardinal
Gibbons, Cardinal Priest OF the Title
Sancta Maria Beyond the Tiber. Arch
bishop of Baltimore-Leo NIL. Pope
Beloved Son: Health and apostolic
blessing. We send to you by this letter
renewed expression of that good will
which we have not failed during the
course OF our pontficatc to manifest fire.
quently to you and to your colleagues in
the episcopate, and to the whole Amcri-
can people. availing ourselves oi ever.
opportunity offered us by the progress Of
your church or whatever you have done
Tor safeguarding and promoting Catholic
interests. Moreover, We have often con-
sidercd and admired the noble gifts OF
your nation, which enable the American
people to be alive to every good work
which promotes the good OF humanity
and the splcndor of civilization. AL
though this letter be not intended. as
preceding ones, to repeat the words OF
praise SO often spoken. but rather to call
attention to some things to be avoided
and corrected. still. because it is con-
ceivcd III that sarhc spirit of apostolic
charity which has inspired all our letters,
we Shall expect that you will take it as
another proof OF our love; the more so
because it is intended to suppress GER
tain contentious which have arisen lately
among you to the dctrimcnt OF the peace
of many souls.
1t is known to you. beloved son, that
the lie OF Isaac Thomas Hccker. especial
~ as interpreted and translated in for
eign language. has excited not little
controversy. because therein have been
voiced certain opinions concerning the
way OF leading Christian life.
We. therefore. on account OF our apos-
tolic Office. having to guard the intcg-
rity OF the faith and OF the security OF the
faithful. are DESTROYS OF writing to YOU
more at length concerning this whole
matter
The underlying principle OF these new
opinions is that. i'll order to more easily
attract those who differ from her, the
church ch0,,1I cl,,r, I,nr
IN accord with the spirit OF the age and
relax some OF her ancient severity and
make some concessions to new opinions
Many think that these concessions should
be made not only in regard to ways of
living, but even to the deposit OF the
faith. They contend that it would be OPP
perfume. in order to gain those who differ
from us. to omit certain points of her
teaching which are OF lesser Importance
and to tone down the meaning which the
church has always attached to them.
DOCTRINE OF FAITH.
1t does not need many words, beloved
son, to prove the falsity OF these IDEAS il
the nature and origin OF the doctrine
which the church proposes are recalled to
mind. The Vatican council says, con-
corning this point:
For the doctrine of faith which God
has revealed has not been proposed, like
philosophical invention to be perfected
by human ingenuity. but has been dcliv-
cred as divine deposit to the spouse OF
Christ, to be faithfully kept and infallibly
declared. Hence that meaning of the
sacred dogmas is perpctually to be re-
tanned which our holy mother, the church,
has once declared, nor is that meaning
ever to be departed from under the pre-
tense OF deeper comprehension of them.
Constitute de Eide Cathoica, Chapter
Nv.
We cannot consider as altogether,
blameless the silence which purposcly
leads to the omission or neglect of some
of the principles of Christian doctrine for
',all the principles come from the same
author and master. "thc only begotten
Son, who is in the bosom OF the Father
John l., I8. They are adapted to all
time and all nations. as are clearly seen
from the words of Our Lord to His apos-
ties: Going. therefore, teach all ma
tons; teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever l have commanded you, and
behold l am with you all-cven to the
end of the world Matt. xii, 10. Con-
corning this point the Vatican council
says:
''All those things are to be believed
with divine and Catholic faith which are
contained in the word of God. written or
handed down, and which the church,
either by a solemn judgment or by her
ordinary and universal magistcrium, pro-
poses for belief, as having been divincly
revealed. "-Constit de Eide, Chapter III.
Y Let it be far from any ones mind to
suppress for any reason any doctrine that
has been handed down. Sucl, policy
would tend rather to separate Catholics
from the church than to bring in those
M sisss