The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-03-01
LETTER FROM THE POPE.
cies in America-Reply of
Ireland.

Rome. Feb. 22.-The OsservatoFe
Romando published letter from the
pope 10 Cardinal Gibbons saying that
| ''if the term Americanism signifies
qualities peculiar to Americans and
usages adapted to their customs, then
we have nothing to say against it, but
| if it denotes the opinions expressed in
the Life of Father Hecker,' we are
| convinced that the American bishops
will be the first to reject them" A
| synopsis of the document follows:
The pope's letter especially reproves
| opinions concerning relaxation of disci-
| pline and nonobservance of doctrinal points
| as a preteXt for attracting dissenters to
| Catholicism, the direction of souls by the
| inspiration Of the Holy Ghost. independent
| of priestly control, and concerning unusual
| methods of preaching Catholicism to dis
| senters.
| The letter, which occupies five columns
| in the Osservatore Romano, begins by
| lauding Cardinal Gibbons and the Ameri-
can Catholics Abiding TO the many proofs
| of good will he has given them in the past
| the pope wishes them to see in the present
| document another proof of his affection
| for America.
| While he makes it clear that the letter
| is one of warning and correction with ref
| erence to the Life of Father Heeker, his
| holiness carefully distinguishes between
| the doctrinal aspects Of the new theories
and questions of practical discipline, and
| strongly urges the impossibility of any
change in the former. While ADMITTING
| that the church has always recognized
| and acted upon the necessity of adapting
| certain points of discipline to modern re-
quirements, ii rests with the church, the
pope points out, and not with individuals
| to determine how and when such adapta-
lions can be made.
"A1 virtues, says his holiness, must
necessarily be active. The contempt shown
by innevators for what they are pleased to
| call passive virtues has naturally led to a
| contempt of religious life as suited only to
the weak and as an impeachment to Christian
perfection and to the good of the COM
munity.'' This error the pope energetical-
| ly condemns, declaring it injurious to the
| religious orders and in contradiction to
| history"
| He reminds the Americans of their in
| debtedness to the religious orders, both
active and contemplative.
The letter arouses deep interest in Rome
| The liberal papers declare that it consti-
| tutes solemn manifestation of the in
| transigeant spirit in Catholicism and pre-
| dict that it will produce an immense effect
| in America.
Rome, Feb. 25-The Observatory Ro-
mano publishes the text of a, letter from
Archbishop Ireland to the pope, regard
ing the pontiff's letter to Cardinal Glib
bons on "Americanism.' The arch
bishop thanks the pope for this proof
of his esteem and love for American
| Catholics. and says that now that the
| pope has shed light upon the nation,
| misunderstanding will cease, "for we
10 Infa ha 70
which some desire to conceal under the
name of Americanism, and define true
Americanism, such as. understood by
| Americans" Continuing, the arch
| bishop says among other things:
with all the energy Of my soul, repu-
|, date all the opinions the apostolic letter
repudiates and condemns, those false and
| dangerous opinions whereto, as his holi-
| ness in brief says, certain people give the
| name of Americanisms. Irepudiate and con-
/ denim them categorically, like his holiness,
/ with all the more promptitude and joy, in
| asmuch as my Catholic faith and compre-
hension of the teachings and practices of
| the church have never permitted me to en-
gtertain such eXtravaganceS. The whole
| episcopate of the United States. in their
| own name and in the name of their f1ocks,
are ready to repudiate and condemn them.
| We cannot but be indignant that such
wrong is done us, cur bishops, our faith
| full and our nation, as to designate by the
name of Americanism such errors and ex-
travagances."
Most holy father, they are enemies of
| the church in America and false interpre-
| tiers Of the faith who imagine there exists
| or who desire to establish in the United
| States church differing single iota from
| the holy universal church, recognized by
I other nations as the only church Rome
| itself recognizes or can recognize as the
infallible. guardian of the revelation Of
Jesus Christ"
Fire in Minneapolis.