The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-24

BALTIMORE, Feb. 23-The follow
ing is the full text Of an approved
translation Of the letter of Pope Leo
MIL to Cardinal Gibbons on "Ameri-
canism," the Latin original having
been received recently by Cardinal
Gibbons. to whom it was forwarded by
Cardinal Rampoila, the papal secretary
Of state:
To Our Beloved Son. James. Cardinal Glib
bons, Cardinal Priest Of the Title SanGa
Maria Beyond the Tiber. Archbishop of
Baltimore-Leo NIL. Pope-Beloved Son.
Health and apostolic blessing. We send 10
you by this letter renewed expression of
that good Will which we have not failed
during The course of our poItifcate to mani
fest frequently to you and to your colleagues
in the episcopate. and to the whole American
people, ayailing ourselves of every oppor
tunity offered us by the progress of your
church or whatever you have done for safe
guarding and promoting Catholic interests.
Moreover. VS. have often considered and ad-
mired 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 splendor of civilization
Although this letter be not intended as pre-
ceding ones, TO repeat the words of praise
so often spoken, but rather to call atten-
ton TO some things TO be avoided and cor
rected, still. because it is conceived in that
same 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 sup
press certain contentious which have arisen
lately among you to the detriment of the
peace of many souls.
1t is known to you beloved son, that the
life Of Isaac Thomas Hecker, especially as
interpreted and translated in a foreign Ian
guage, has excited not a little controversy,
because therein have been voiced certain
opinions concerning the way Of leading a
Christian life
We, therefore on account of our apos-
tolic office. having TO guard the integrity
Of the faith and OF the security Of the faith
1ul, are desirous OF writing to you more at
length concerning this whole matter.
The underlying principle of these new opln-
ions is that. in order to more easily attract
those who differ from her the church should
shape her teachings more in accord with the
spirit of the age and relax some of her
ancient severity and make some conce ssions
to new opinions. Many think that these
concessions should be made not only in re-
gard to WAYS of living, but even in regard
to doctrines which belong to the deposit of
the faith. They contend that 1t would be
opportune, in order to gain those who differ
from US, to omit certain points of her teach
ing which are of lesser Importance and to
tone down the meaning which the church has
always attached to them.
DOCTRINE OF FAITH
It does not need many words, beloved son,
TO prove the falsity Of these ideas if the
nature and origin of the doctrine which the
Vatican council says, concerning this point:
For the doctrine of faith which Geo has
revealed has not been proposed like a phil
osCphical invention to be perfected by hui
man ingenuity but has been delivered as a
divine deposit to the spouse of Christ to be
faithfully kept and nfallibly declared Hence
that meaning of the sacred dogmas is per-
petually to be retained which our holy moth
er, the church, has once declared. nor is
that meaning ever to be departed from I'M
der the pretense or preteXt of 3 deeper COM
prehension of them. Constitute de Eide
Catholica. Chapter ".
We cannot consider as altogether blame
less the silence which purposely leads to the
omission or neglect of some of the principles
Of Christian doctrine. for all the princi-
pies come from the same author and master
the only begOtten Son. who Is in the bosom
OF the Father. John l., IS. They are adapt
60 TO all time and all nations as are clearly
seen from the words of our Lord to His
apostles Going, therefore. teach all ma
uonsi teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever l have commanded you. and be-
hold l am with you all-even to the end of
the world. Matt, xii, 10. Concerning
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
magisterium, proposes for belief as having
been divinely revealed. '-Constit de Eide
Chapter III.
Let it be far from any ones mind to sup
press Tor any reason any doctrine that has
been handed down. Such a policy would
tend rather to separate Catholics from the
There Is nothing closer to our heart than tc