The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
ROME AND AMERICANISM.
NOW FAR MAY THE CHURCH IDEN TIFY
JIBELF WIN NATIONAL LIFE?
Father Cuthbert Snys That English Cath
Olios May solve the NeScd Question OF
Church nnh Stnte by nleMhine CnthOll-

Father Cuthbert Snys That English Cath
Olics May SOlve the NeScd Question OF
Church aud state by blending Cntholl-
cism with the National Character.
rops Leo's letter on "Americanism" contin-
ues TO be discussed DV Cathode chutrhmcn
throughout tho world. one Of he most strk
Ing OF the recent articles on he subject Is from
the pen Of the Rev. Father Cuthbert. an Eng
lish Cnruchn monk. who writes a. follows in
the Hsskiy RcDistr:
Rome has srOkep. the cause is finished"
With euunl truth might il bo said. Rome has
spoken. the cause Is begun" For the JudE-
ments Of the Holy See have usually this char
acteriStic. that whilo defining or guarding
against error. they point to the way OF grow
ing truth: and what before was a NnGue. hest
tatng movement now becomes definite adj
vance
In tho letter TO tma Americans ;he Holy
Father has dealt with a vital question con
corning the future Of the church. especially
In English-sl eahirg countries-the question.
broadly sueaknR. a. to nov far Catholicism
may identity Itself with rational life 1t may
be taken as an axiom that the Church cannot
convert the nations without absorbing into it,
sell whatever Is good In the character and
manner Of life of the nations. No nation
possesses all The moral qualities in an emil
nent degree. hut every natl N in the best days
OF it's power nlnnifosts somn particular moral
quality ia hrioic degree The Church as
the unifSing factor among the nations must
Absorb into itself all various national qualities
and must exclude none: or. TO put 1t In M
other way. the Church must include all ma
tons not merely as geographical extensions.
but ~ neral entities: TINT il to say, the Church
must include in me economy Of il, social life
n cararty TO admit into itself the national
tif,,t ,fa ant ion nm
Ter the sun. 10 80 far a. these habits and char.
actcristics are not opposed 20 the teaching Il
Christ. For We repeat. in such habits AMI
characteristics OF nations. rs also. indeed. OF
individuals. the infinite life of God is mani
tested as ina panorama Of uatural revelation.
Wherever, then. the Church Is planted. it must
identity itself with whatever is good in the ma
tional lfo and exclude nothing. But here
comes tho difficulty. In identifying itself with
the national lie tho Church may never sur
render that universal character which she ha'
as tho guardian Of the one Divine velation
regarding faith or morals; neither can she al.
low the essential unity Of the church a. the
divln-Iy ordained kingdom Of God on enrth 10
Ge obscursd 10y my exclusive .LnatpnaiIsnl.
The Church;nust identify itseif with all the
TONS, but IN suhordtnation u its own essen
The re- ra,nocs " Of Notwithstanding nations
ifs m, th@y H@.e II Tant b the x2Gd "SSd %
feel that hitherto they have been regarded.
aud in Iced have regarded Themselves 200
that hey have TOO often ad"Meh mnnners end
customs and n.".iss "f Thought alien TO their
"Tn na n@'%r n s9r' 1s nr 10 hn E% s spr,
- ta'hoNcI@nl n i"rern nsre"t and the neci
Of altering this stat" of things has for apme
tms past been kesnly felt among a. ranks of
he go nmuult, Now It is obvious that Ia this
endcaNur 70 hl"nd national life with taih"li-
uisn there are various dangers to be- avoided.
An q NtsIr : - d II la
''athOIi"iSm into unsYmrAtheiic units and dc
troy rrscticaiIy. If not IN theory. the solidarity
Of the Church is ever 10 I've guarded against
But the Notwithstanding Catholics are rot
likely 10 listen fer moment - any argument
that tends u destroy n" inIrerInl unity Of
Whcn 81. ,iic-or" sent 81 turu.iine to con.
vert the ArC'1.NhN"us. h" hHi1 :he apostle not
{" destroy the nai'ona, customs. but 10 "onse-
crate them ard ne them Tor religious pur-
toAes. Il. would have hssp well II MI other
missionaries Ia kept Mis- prer"it in view
when they sct forth TO convert English to he
faith. Some Of them have. indeed. done SC.
nui have thus Begun the process 81 naturaliz-
ing the Church among our cuuntrvmcp. Thus
the Fathers of the Society " Jesus have ,!ons
pioneer work with Their text hooks Of phioso-
been sanding memorial Qf tn. blending ~
the English rhnrqrr"r with religious life,
Of St Am'huuN. tor a,Ie'.a'ilg the hunger O.
The poor, is an a. emut ~ uationahle urHctt.N
all 'oItr l"y"tian. Tn" institution, oi Cath"ll.
rertrcs NJ thC universities was sin moro emf.
neutly AZ ti,arrn fl III" right direction. Most
note vNr.hv'Ot niL however. have h"ru the e.
forts rudC bv Carllha! Manning and others 10
dea' with that most pressing Of our national
problems the condition of the working rla|-
Indeed. the Inst few years have seou the begin
ming Ot s.rsuUrGs enduHNCrI thus to plant
'athOiirism in the very soil ~ lUEiish chHrar-
ter and tho effect ia already hncpming mani
fee in the growing respect with whrh tathOli-
Cism is REGARDED hv the country at Large. and
iu tive leesnsjug Of the ioNu'ar rrGlHdirc that
to he IA Catholic luu must reaFc to lie an Eng
lishmhn.
But tho work thus begun ncnl4 to lie still
more vigorously continued, There are vet
among US many tO whom Catholicism seems IN
least in 60 lar a IL il English. To men Of this
wav n thinking. the raising of the national
Cathedral - Westminster. the first symbol uf
Catholicism moulded by ErEish minds uud
hands-i~ little less than y h'asuhcnly. They
would pre'er that We )ooi, toward No'rc Dnn"
81 Paris or the DupmO Of Florence. and NOr-
, SHIPPED n q distance. 50 long aS there are
Catholics among MS who New with di-trust
orr own national character. Catholicism VIII
never gain ito due rnsitiOn a nong the English
Drnr's. Fortunately they are he'nmiuE les in
uumher wear hv venr. vet they arc "aUrh'a ~
doing much mischief 10 the Church while hey
remain. In all these matters llr is'tcr Of the
pOu- t. the Americans has land dow the rule
n he followed. In faith there must he M
lrViatinE unity: IN discipline there must he
ore source Of authority. the Holy soc. which
alone has he ultimate right to determine III"
oppor'unc moment for the introdUot!un OF new
lava the modification OF old ones. In M At
ters OF national custom and habit, which ara
not OrpOsel 10 'ha laws 81 rhr Church. the
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