The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-24
POPE LEO IO AMERICA
PapaI Distinction Drawn Be-
tween Liberty and License.
ALL VERY WELL TO ADAPT
Old Creeds to New Times, But
Beware of New CreedS.


canism." heretofore covered briefly in the
Associated Press cable dispatches was
made public here today. His holiness
commenting on the controversy which mas
crown out of the French translation OF the
life OF the late Father Hecker, FOUNDER
of the Society of Paulists, distinctly
American order, says that the rule OF
life laid down for Catholics by the Vatican
council is not of such nature that it can
not accommodate itself to the exigencies
of various times and places. The church
has at all times been what St. Paul SAID
of himself: 1 became all things to all
men that / might save all In regard 10
ways of living, the church has been accus-
toned to so yield that, the divine prlnl-
pies Of morals being kept intact, she has
never neglected to accommodate herseII
to the character and genius Of the nations
which she embraces. But in this present
matter there is great danger and manifest
opposition to Catholic doctrine and disci-
pine and in the Onion of the lovers Of
novelty that allowance should be granted
the faithful, each one to follow out more
trend of his own proper activity. Such
reasoning is evidently faulty. No one
should wish to depart from the infallible
teaching authority of the church. The
confounding Of license with liberty, the
passion for duscissng and pouring con-
tempt upon any possible subject, the as
sumed right to hold whatever opinions one
pleases upon any subject and to set them
forth in print to the world, have SO
wrapped minds in darkness that there is
now a greater need of the church's teach
ing Office than ever before, lest people be-
come unmindfuI both of conscience and
of duty"
The pope says that while he believes
there was no thought Of wrong or guile
in the opinions Of Father Hecker, yet they
certainly merit some degree of suspicion,
and he proceeds to point out at length
those opinions which he regards as mimi
cal to the church authorities and as be-
! ing heretical in spirit His holiness pro-
ceeds:
'In the apostolic letters concerning the
constitution of states addressed by US to
the bishops of the whole church, we dis
cussed this point at length; and there set
forth the differences existing between the
church. which Is a divine society, and all
other social human organizations, which
depend simply on the free will and choice
of men. It IS well, then, to particularly
/ direct attention to the opinion which serves
as the argument in behalf or this greater
liberty sought for and recommended to
! Catholics.
at is alleged that now, the Vatican de-
cree concerning the infallible teaching
authority of the Roman pontif having
| been proclaimed, that nothing further on
! that score can give any solicitude and, &C
cordingIy, since that has been safeguarded
/ and put beyond question, wider and treer
! field both for thought and action lies
/ open TO each one. But such reasoning Is
evidently faulty. since, II we are to come
! to any conclusion from the infallible teach
/ ing of the church it should rather be that
no one should wish to depart from it, and,
/ moreover, that, the minds of all being
! leavened and directed thereby, greater Sc
/ curitv from private error would be en-
! loved by all And further. those who avail
/ themselves Of such a way Of reasoning
seem to depart seriously from the over
ruling wisdom of the Most High. which
/ wisdom, since it was pleased to set forth
] by solemn decision, the authority and su-
/ preme teaching rights OF this apostolic
see-willed that decision precisely in order
| to safeguard the minds of the church 5
( children from the dangers Of these pres
! ent times. These dangers, viz: The con-
/ founding Of license with liberty, the pas
J sion for duscssing and pouring contempt
upon any possible subject, the assumed
! right to hold whatever opinions one pleases
uon ayy subject and 10 set them forth IT
nrint 70 the world, have SO wrapped us ii
darkness that there is now a greater need
Of the church's teaching Office than ever
before. lest people become unnBndful botf
Of conscience and Of duty. We, indeed
have no thought of rejecting every thiue
that modern industry and study has pro
duced: so far from 1t that we welcome K
the patrimony of truth and to an ever
widening scope Of public well-being what
soever helps toward the progress OF learn
! ing and virtue. Yet, all this, 10 be of any
solid benefit. nay, to have a real exist
| ence and growth. can only be on the con
dition Of recognizing the wisdom and au
thority Of the church.
Coming now TO speak Of the conclusion
which have been deduced from the abov'
opinions, and for them. we readily believ'
there was 10 thought Of wrong OF guile
Vet the things themselves certainly msri
some degree Of suspicion. First, all ex
terral guidance IS set aside for those soul
who are striving after Christian perfec
ton as being that the Holy Spirit pour
richer and more abundant graces thar
formerly upon the souls OF the faithful, .
that without human Intervention II
teaches and guides them by some hiddel
instinct OF HIS own Yet it IS the sign o
no small over-conhdence 20 desire 20 meas
ure and determine the mode Of the divin
communication 20 mankind: It wholly de
ponds uon HIS own good leasure and II
Is a most generous dispenser Of HIS CIV
gifts. The spirit breathes whereso Il
l.s,eth'-John SIS. To each % u grace
given according 70 the measure o. the Civ
ing ot Christ.-Ephesians ~.
And SHAH anyone who recalls the his
tory OF the apostles. the faith ot the mas
cent church. the trials ans deaths ot n
martyrs-and. above al. those olden times
50 fruitful n saints-dare 10 measure ou
age VIII these, or affirm that they re
celved no less Of the divine oatPoC-.rl
from the spirit OF Holiness
40, 20 dwell upon this point. there :
no one who calls in question ths trutl
that the Holy Spirit does work by a ssc-e
descent into the souls CT the 5Dz-. an
.hat He stsrs them alike BY warnings an
impulses. since unless tbs were tie ca
AL outward defense and authority Soul
be unavsltng. For z any perslal5s him