The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-27
SA|D BY POPE LEO XIII
LATEST ENCYCLICAL OF THE AGED
HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
IT DEALS WITH SOCIALISM
DISTINCTION DRAWN BETWEEN
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY
WORK IS TO BE COMMENDED
"Christian Democracy Says the
Holy Father, "Seeks Both the Ma
terial and Spiritual We'll
fare of Mankind.

ROME, JAN 26.-The pope's encyclical
on socialism was issued today. 1t is
dated Jan. IS, and says a distinction
must be carefully drawn between So
cialism and the movement among Catho-
lies that was revived in his previous en-
cyclical on the social question which is
called Christian democracy The first
only concerns itself with material wealth
and social equality, whereas Christian
democracy, while seeking material ameli-
Grafton has spiritual ameliOra ton In
view.
The pope commences with reviewing
his two previous encycIicals on social
questions, "quod apostolic numeris" and
''rerum Novarum,' and says the sequel
of these encyclicals was that the Catho-
lies devoted all their activity to social
works in order to help the working class
es. The pontiff here reviews all that has
been done i'll this direction, the founda-
ton of labor bureaus and bands for the
laboring classes and Workingmen of all
lands. He says the appellation, Chris
tian Socialism, is correct, and says, the
societies that occupy themselves with
social questions are sometimes called
pellatiOn is regarded by some people as
being i'll sounding. Divergences having
arisen, the pope ardently desires to elm
mate them. Careful distinction must be
drawn between socialism and Christian
democracy. The first concerns itself
with material possessions, always seek
ing to establish personal equality and a
common holding of goods.
"CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY"
Christian democracy, on the contrary,
respects the principles of divine law, and
while seeking material amelioration has
in view the spiritual welfare of the peo-
pie Christian democracy moreover must
not be COMPOUNDED with political democ-
racy, for the first can and ought to sub
sist rs does the church herself, under
the most varied political regime. Chris
tian democracy also ought to respect the
laws of legitimate civil authority The
appellation, Christian democracy
therefore contains nothing that might
offend any one. These Emergencies now
having been dispelled, Catholics ought to
be able to devote themselves to the care
of social questions and the amelioration
of the lot of the working classes.
AID THE TOILING MASSES.
The pope commends the zeal of those
who consecrate themselves to this emf
nently useful work. The encyclical eu-
logizes the giving of aims, which the
socialists wrongfully regard as insulting
to the poor. Aims, on the contrary,
serve to tighten the ties of social chart
ty. 1t matters little whether this action
of Catholics in favor of the working
classes is called the social action of
Catholics or Christian democracy, the
essential point is that Catholics should
act together to preserve the community
of effort and sentiment. Idle, useless
question ought, therefore, never to be
brought up in the press or public assem-
blies. Catholics must act so as not 10
engage in disputes. The pontiff con-
cludes with exhorting Catholics to inspire
themselves with these principles and to
1nculcate them They must urge the peo-
pie and workingmen to shun everything
vested with seditious or revolutionary
character, respect the rights of others,
be respectful to others, and respect So
briefly and Righteousness. Thus will So
cial peace again become fourishfng
throughout the world.