Evening journal., 1899-03-02


BILE gifts On your nation which enable
the American people 70 be alive to
every good work which promotes the
good OF humanity and the splendor OF
civilization. Although this letter be
not intended, as preceding ones. to re-
peat the words OF praise so often spok-
en-, but rather to caA attention to some
things to be avoided and corrected;
still because Il is conceived In that
same spirit Of Apostolic charity which
has inspired an our letters, we shall
expect that You VIII take It as another
prccf of our love; the more so because
1t is INTENDED TO suppress certain con-
tengiOns which have arisen lately
amcng you to the detriment Of the
pence Of many souls.
1t is alleged that now the Vatican de-
cree concerning the infalible teaching
authority OF the Roman Pontiff hav-
Ing bsen proclaimed, that nothing fur-
theE ON that ecore can give RnH 6olias-
tude. and accordingly. since mat nae
been safeguarded and put beyond Ques-
ton wider and freer field both foF
thought and action lies open TO each
one But such reasoning Is evidently
faulty since. If we are to come to amy
conclusion from the infallible teaching
authority of the Church, It should
rather be that no one should wish to
depart from IL, and moreover that the
minds OF all being leavened and di-
rected thereby, greater security from
private error wbuld be enjoyed by all
he,
selves of such way Of reasoning seem
to depart seriously from the oyer-rui-
ing wisdom Of the Most Hlgh-which
wisdom. since It was pleased to SCI
forth ly most solemn declson the
authority and supreme teaching rights
OF this Apostolic See-wElled that de-
cision precisely In order to safeguard
the minds of the Church's children
from the dangers Of these present
times.
These dangers. viz, the cOnfounding
Of license with liberty. the passion for
discussing. and pouring contempt upon
any possible subject, the assumed
right to hold whatever opinions one
pleases upon any subject and 10 set
them forth in print to the world, have
SO wrapped minds in darkness that
there is now a greater need OF the
Churchs teaching Office than ever be-
fore. lest people become unmindful
both Of conscience and Of duty.
The Pope cOnclndes as follows:
From the foregoing it is manifest,
beloved son, that we are not able to
give approval to those views which, in
their collective sense, are called by
some "Americanfsm" But If by this
name are to be understood certain en-
dOwments Of mind which belong 10 the
American people, just as ether char
acteristfes belong to various other na-
tions, and II. moreover, by it Is desig-
mated your political condition and the
laws and customs by which you are
governed, there is no reason to take
exception to the name. But II this Ia
to be so understood that the doctrines
which have been adverted to above
are net only indicated. but exalted
there can be no manner of doubt that
our venerable brethren, the bishops OF
America, would be the first to repudi-
ate, and condemn it as being most In
juflous to themselves and to theii
country. For It would give rise tc
the suspicion that there are among you
some who conceive and would have
the Church in America TO be different
from what it is in the rest Of tht
world.
But the true church is one, as bJ
unity OF doctrine. so by unity Of gov
eminent, and she Is Catholic also
Since God has placed tie centre anr
foundation of unity in the chair o.
Blessed Peter, she is rightly called thl
Roman Church, for where Peter is
there is the church" Wherefore, 4
anybody wishes to be considered
real Catholic, he ought to be able q
say from his heart the self-same word
which Jerome addressed to Pope Da
massus: "I acknowledging no othe
leader than Christ, am bound in fel
lowship with your Holiness; that Is
with the chair Of Peter. l know tina
the Church was built upon him as II
rock. and that whatsoever gathered
not with you, scattereth."
We have thought it fitting, believe
son, in view CT your high office, tina
this letter should be addressed special
ly to you. Il Will also be our care t
see that copies are sent to the bishop
OF the United States, testifying agai
that love by which we embrace you
whole country, a country which in pas
times has done SO much fer the caus
of religion, and which will by the d
. vine assistance continue to do sti
greater things. To you, and to a
, the faithful Of America, we grant mos
! .ovingly, as a pledge Of Divine assis
ance, our apostolic benedictiOn.
Given at Rome, from st. Peters, th
J, 22d day OF january, 1899. and the thii
ty-frst of our ponufcate.
LEO XIII.