Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-03-03
POPE LEO ON AMERICANlSMS
Cannot Endorse Views Held in life
Of ThOS. HeCker."
Paulst Fathers do not Consider II a Rebuff
Digest Of Letter to Cardinal
Gibbons In Baltimore.

|
Gibbons in Baltimore,
New York, Feb. 24.-Tbe
Times says: The letter of the
Pope to Cardinal Gibbons on the
subject of "a mericanism" cid not
surprise the Paulist fathers Of
this city. II was characteristic as
condemning no doctrine which
they held they say, and casting
no imputation upon them of dis
loyalty to the Roman Catholic
church.
The late Father Hecker, they
say, had only to know any teach
ing of the Catholic church to in
stantly submit to it.
speaking in their names, 1
may say that the Paulist fathers
feel aud act likewise" said Father
A. p Doyle.
"Do you feel that the letter Of
the Pope has been at all dis
appointment to your" he was
asked.
mot in any sense" he replied.
ut does not touch u.s."
/
Following is a digest of Pope
Leo's letter:
1t is known to you, beloved con,
that the life of Isaac Thomas
Hecks, especially is interpreted
and translated in foreign langu-
age, has excited not little con-
troversy, because therein have
been voiced certain opinions con.
corning the way of leading Christ
ian life.
We, therefore, on account Of
our apostolic office, having to
guard the integrity of the faith
and 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 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 aud make some conces-
sions to new opinions. Many
think that these concessions should
be made not only in regard to
ways Of living, but even in regard
to doctrine which belong to the
deposit of the faith. Il II y
They contend that it would he
opportune, in order to gain tbose
who differ from us to omit CT
tain points Of her teachings which
are of lesser Importance and to
tone down the meaning which the
church has always attached t.,
them. 1t does not need many
words, beloved son, to prove the
falsity of these ideas if the uatu e
and origin of the doctrine which
the church proposes are recalled
to mind. The Vatican councils
says concerning this poiut: "For
the doctrine of faith which God
has revealed, has not been pro
posed, like philosophical inveu-
lion, to be perfectei by human
ingenuity, but has been delivered
as divine depo it to the spouse
OF Christ to be ia thfully kept and
infallibly declared. Hence, that
mt aiming of the sacred doemas is
perpetually to be retained whicn
our holy mother, the church, has
once declared, nor is that mean
ing ever to be departed from m
der the pretense or prelext of
deeper comprehension Of Them"
Constitute de fide catholica, chap
ter iv. X
The rule of life laid lown for
Catholics is not of such nature
that it cannot accommodate Itself
to the exigencies Of various time
and places. The church has
guided by her divine master, a
kind and merciful spirit, for
which reason from the very be-
ginning she has beeL what st.
Paul said of himself: Il becam,
all things to all men that l might
have ALL
But in regard to ways of living
she has been accustomed to so
yield that the divine principle OF