The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-24

I BALTIMORE, Md. Feb. 23.--The fol-
lowing ispart Of the text Of an approv-
ed translation of the letter OF Pope Leo
XIII TO Cardinal Gibbons on Americana
ism, the Latin original having been re-
ceived recently by Cardinal Gibbons, to
whom it was forwarded by Cardinal
Rampolla, the papal secretary of state.
After assuring the cardinal of his live
" interest in American affairs, the pope
In part says:
1t Is known to you. beloved son, that
the life OF Isaac Thomas Heckcr, cspe-
cially as interpreted and translated in
n foreign language. has excited not u
little controversy, because there have
been voiced certain opinions concerning
the way of leading Christian life.
We. therefore. on account OF our
apostolic Office. having to guard the
integrity of the faith and the security
OF the faithful, are deslrous OF writing
to you more at length concerning the
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 and
make some concessions to new opin-
ions. Many think that these conces-
slonS should be made not only In re-
gard to ways Of living. but even in re-
gard 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 teachings which
are OIL lesser Importance, and TO tone
down the meaning which the church
has always attached to them. 1t does
not need many words. beloved son, to
prove the falsity of those ideas II the
nature and origin OF the doctrine which
the church proposes are recalled TO
mind.
We cannot consider as wholly blame
less the silence which leads to the
omission Or neglect OF some of the
principles of Christian doctrine, for all
the principles come from the sans Au-
thor and Master, the only BeGotten
Son. who is IN the bosom oil the Father"
John |, Is. They are adapted to all
times and al. nations. as is clearly seen
| from the words Of our Lord to his apos-
Ties: Going. therefore, teach MI nd :
ti0nS; teaching them to observe all
| things whatsoever | have commanded
y0u and behold. | am with you ali days,
even to the end Of the world. Matt,
xviii. ~. Concerning this point, the
vatican council says:
,"All those things are TO be believed
with divine and Catholic faith which are
contained IL The words OF God, written
or handed down. and which the church,
either by solemn Judgment or by her or
dfEary and universal maEisteriuni. pro-
poses for belief as having been divinely
rcvealed."-Const de Eide, chapter Iii.
Let II be far from any ones mind to
suppress for any reason any doctrine
that has been handed down. Such Il
policy would tend rather TO separate
Catholics from the church than to bring
in those who differ. There Is nothing
closer to our heart than 10 have these
who are separated from the fold of
Christ return to II. but In no other way
than the way pointed out by Christ.
But. beloved son. in this present mat
ter of which we are speaking, there Is
even greater danger and 4 more man
ifest opposition 70 Christian doctrine
and discipline in that opinion of the
lovers of novelty according TO which
they hold such liberty should be allowed
In the church, that her supervision and
watchtulncss being In some sense less
encd, allowance be granted the faithful.
each one TO follow out more freely the
leading OF his own mind and the trend
OF his own proper activity. They are
OF opinion that such liberty has its
counterpart IN the newly given civil
freedom which is now the right and the
foundation OF almost every Secular
state.
Church and Stntc.
In the apostolic letters concerning
the constitution of states. addressed by
us to the bishops OF the whole church,
we discussed this point at length: and
thelS set forth the differences existing
between the church. which is 4 divine
society. and all other social human or
ganizations which depend simply on the
free will and church OF men.
1t Is well, then, 10 particularly direct
attention TO the opinion which serves
Hs the argument in behalf OF this great
er liberty sought for and recommended
TO Catholics.
II Is alleged that. now the vatican de-
cree concerning the infalliblc teaching
authority Of the Roman pontlfr having
been proclaimed that nothing further
on that score Can give any solicitudc
and accordingly. since that has been
| safeguarded and put beyond question.
n wider ana frcer field both for thought
and action lies open 10 each one. But
such reasoning Is evidently faulty,
since. II We are to como TO any conclu-
sion from the infalliblc teaching nu-
thority OF the church, 1t should rather
be that no one should wish to depart
from 1t. and moreover that the minds of
all being lcarcned and directed thereby,
greater security from private error
would be enjoyed by all. And further.
those who avail themselves OF such a
way or reasoning seem to depart scri-
onsly from the overrulng wisdom OF
the Most High. which wisdom. since 1t
was pleased to set forth by most SOL
cmn decision the authority ana SUI
premc teaching rights OF this apostolic
see-willed that deCipon precisely In
order to safeguard the minds OF the
church; children from the danger OF
these present times.
Ihese dangers. viz: The confoundlng
OF license with liberty. the passion for
discussing and pouring contempt upon
any possible subject, the assumed right
to hold whatever opinions one plcusCs
upon any subject and to set them forth
In print to the world. have so wrapped
minds In darkness that there Is now
greater need OF the churCh's teaching
Office shnn ever before, lest people be-
come unmindful both OF conscience and
OF duty
We, indeed. have no thought OF re"
lccting everything that modern indus
try and study has produced: SO fur from
1t that We welcome TO the patrimony OF
truth and to an widening scope Of
public well being whatsoever helps to-
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