New-York tribune., 1902-04-06
CATHOLICISM IN AUSTRIA.

The liberal Catholic movement in Austria has
received a new impetus from the recent striking
address Of DR.. Leopold Wahrmund, professor
of canonical law at Innsbruck University. The
address, which was a severe arraignment of
ultramontanism, was all the more noteworthy
because Professor Wahrmund is not only q
Roman Catholic in good standing, but many
occasions has defended the Church by voice
and pen. Just because he is loyal son Of the
Church. however he now deems it his duty TO
say that the conservatives in the Church are
destroying its vitality. BY their blind oppo
stion to rational thought they have caused the
Church to lose its supremacy among educated
people. Hence Indifference, If not unbelief is
rapidly spreading among the higher and middle
classes. while radical theories of socialism are
alternating the masses in the cities from Chris
tanity. So it comes about that the Catholic
faith is in process of becoming a religion for
rustics after the fashion of the declining pagan
ism of the ancient world 1t is useless to try to
combat this state of affairs by professions and
associations for prayer. Nor can the spirit Of
enlightenment and progressive culture be bludg-
eoned. Liberal Catholics cannot fail to realize
that there is an ominous gulf between reason and
faith. They want to see that gulf bridged; but
the conservatives. instead of helping to that
end, seem anxious to make the gulf wider Such
a conception of Catholicism means petrifaction
and stagnation. instead Of life and progress
Such ik the gist of Professor Wahrmunds ad-
dress as reported and it is needless to say that
it at once made a sensation. At the next sit
ting of the Rechsra tn the Minister Of Educa-
tion. in reply to Clerical Interpolation. mildly
criticised Professor Wahrmund for his utter
ance. but declined to issue prohibition against
such utterances in the future, AS any such step
a,,11 to{1 -,-,@k
versity. Another indication of the growing
strength of the socalled emancipation from
Rome" movement in Austria is the general con-
demnation of the recent reintroduction of re-
ligious exercises in the intermediate schools
Most of the newspapers. including strongly
Catholic and Ant-Semitic organs criticised this
step, which is approved only ny the Clerical
organ "Vaterland.' Some of the leading Cath
olic organs of Germany also take the same
ground. and the "K0lnische Volkszeitung
warns the Church authorities against any at
tempt to force Professor Ehrhard. the leading
representative of the new spirit in Austria,
from his chair in the Vienna University An
other indication of the growth of liberalism is
the decision not 10 convene the Lower Austrian
Catholic Congress. which was to have met at
the end of this month TO discuss the best means
of combating the emancipation from Rome
movement 1t was feared that the discussion
would only inflame the liberal leaders. without
suggesting anything that would really put an
end to liberalism.
There is undoubtedly an admixture Of politics
in this movement TO liberalize Catholicism. The
Pan-Germanic extremists have fostered II for
purposes Of their own. and the Anti-Clericals
generally use 1t when they can to further their
political schemes. But when all that is said. It
still remains true that It is largely a religions
movement. and is being carried on wholly with.
IN the Church; for the liberals wish simply to