The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-01
022
Kansas
AYenne.
CORRIGAN ALONE
Of the American Hierarchy, Endorses
the Pope's Position.

ak
New York, May IA special to the
World from Washington says:
The text of the letter which Arch
bishop Corrigan of New York addressed
on America nism,' reached this city
few days ago. Its transmission has
caused a sensation in Catholic circles.
It shows that the archbishop alone of
the entire American hierarchy en-
dOrses in full the papal brief
Cardinal Gibbons in his reply to the
papei admOnition repudiated certain
doctrines and said he was not aware
that such teachings passed current as
Catholic doctrine. ArChbishOps Ireland
and Keane said practically the same
thing, as did a number of other pre-
lates. Even such leaders of the Ger
man party as Archbishop katZer Of
Milwaukee and Bishop HOrtsmann of
Cleveland, sOlemnly protested to the
pope that the errors which he had des-
ignated as t'Americanism" had no
place in the American Catholic church.
Catholics here think that the New
York prelate did another remarkable
thing in signing the letter in the name
of all the suhragan bishops of New
York province According to the usual
etiquette each bishop has the right to
reply to the pope in his own name. 1t
is known here that at least four of the
sufragan bishops do not endorse the
sentiments in their archbiShOp's letter.
Another matter which causes COM
ment is the recollection of the fact that
tur or ecclesiastical sanction to the
book on Father Hickey's life. which is
the primary cause of the present dis
turbance.
The churchmen say that it is supposed
that when a prelate formally endorses
publication he stands sponsor for its
soundness- They are therefore surprised
that Archbishop COrrigan should now
refuse to defend the doctrine which his
previous action caused to be spread
broadcast among American Catholics.
The text OF the archbishop'S letter is
in part as follows:
Most Holy Father: We can not ex-
press in words the feelings of admira-
ton, of joy and of gratitude with which
our heart has been penetrated towards
your holiness in reading the mastery
and admirable letter which you have
designed to address to US on what, for
some time past, has been designated
under the name of 'Americanism.' 1t
is with the greatest wisdom that your
holiness has united into one group the
many and fallaciOus errors which would
like to pass for good Catholic teaching
under the specieuS title of American
ISM
we receive, then. and accept for our
selves, our clergy and for the communi-
ties and for congregations which, with
US, work for the salvation of souls as
we'll as for all faithful, your holiness
dOctrinal letter, 'testem benevOlentae.'
We accept it and make it our own,
word for word, and sentence for SEN
tence.
In it's regard we shall never make
nor shall we ever permit that others de-
pending from US either directly or in
directly, should make any reservation
or regeneration Your holiness has
spoken; the question is therefore ended.
We can say also that the monster
which, in order to obtain a lasting
abode, to acquire the rights of citizen
ship among us, assumed to itself the
fair name of Americanism, has on it's
first appearance been struck down
dead But it is to you that the glory
of this happy result is due If your
holiness had not OPPORTUNITY come TO
our aid with your admirable letter, how
numerous might have been those who
through ignorance rather than through
malice would have been caught in the
trap.
And now, with our heads high, we
can repeat that we are Americans as
truly as anyone who ever he may be.
Yes, we are and we glory in it,