The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-19
LEO and The Bible


The Popes latest encyclcal formally nstiutng the new Bb
cal commission regarded than usually significant in
view OF the fact that is recognition of the influence OF the
higher criticism In this document the members OF the
mission who have already in Rome and selected Father
David Fleming chairman definitely instructed their
duties From the London ab Rom Cath) we quote the ol
lowing summary OF the guiding principles laid down:
The Holy Father lays down under three heads the leading
ideas which a guide the members OF the
mission in their work In the first place they take advan
age OF the fruits OF modern research Any help to Biblical
evegesis they up without hesitation and by writing
make matter of common knowledge. Phoogy and the kim
dred branches of knowledge be seduousy cultivated Al
most all the attacks on sacred Scripture have these
studes and seek weapons there the struggle "th
not to be carried at disadvantage We must not
let oup us in the knowledge OF the ancient
Oriental languages and in familiarity with the early manuscripts
In the second place the authority OF the sacred Scripture must
be maintained in its entirety They guard against the
spread amongst Catholics OF the eprehensbe practice OF allow
ing much weight the opinions OF non-C athoc as tho
the proper understanding OF the Bible depended display OF
eaneous erudon God has delivered to tine private
the church is the laws OF hermeneucs, but the div
mey appointed guide and teacher the church. that throw
light on the obscury OF the divine books; the legitimate sens OF
Scripture be found outside the church, can be CIV
by those who reject her teaching and authority The members
Of the commission therefore, must do their best to induce those
who taken with excessive admiration tor non-Caho
writer's give devoted adherence to the church. If the
Catholic interpreter seeks help in his critical studies from outside
authors he caution and discrimination The critical
faculty OF the greatest help in penetrating the sense OF the
writer's may be sapened by the oppoune OF
heeodox authors but Catholics must beware OF being injected
by the ntemperance of judgment into which the higher criticism
frequently degenerates In the third place the commission must
give special attention the positive explanation OF sacred Scrip
is OF the greatest benefit to the faithful With regard
those where the has been automatically declared
by the sacred writer's by the church, is hardly neces-
sary say that this Interpretation the only that can be in
accord with the canons sound hermenecs The many pas
sages which the church definitely explained left to
the Judgment individual scholars interpret they please
as long as they are faithful to standard of the analogy of
faith and Christian doctrine The keennes of the dicsussion
however should lead to breaches of mutual charity 1t will
he M dnt Of the commission to regulate the chief questions
dispute among Catholic scholars and decide them far as their
judgment and authority reach One advantage to be gained
from this will be that questions will be maured tor the decara-
Nrl1t1 he
by Catholics what reserved for further investigation or lett
the judgment of each individual
This looks like prescribing in advance what the commission
discover the result OF Investigations, observes the
Chicago Advance gngresonaisD but even So the appoint
the commission notewoy for popes have in the past
yielded to the Protestant spirit OF ana Pae
ent processes severely logical and the Holy Father IN
this but following in the course OF his predecessors
adapting himself to progress somewhat at the expense Oh osc
The Chicago Interior 0'resb) comments, in similar vein
Pope Leos encycca appointing commission to devote
energy insure that the divine words may receive
the explanation demanded OF them by the times does the utmost
possible make the abor OF the commission utterly e by
adding qualifying instructions That must be held to be the
true OF Holy Scripture which has been and being held
by the Holy Mother Church. There minister anywhere
in Professionalism who would not agree that that sentence contains
gs the why the Catholic church is SO nearly
failure a living saving Christian truth And yet we
have known Presbyterian ministers Wo whenever eo
logical professors appointed to do for church what this
commission for Catholicism have insisted that they must
put on lust such ampocks Pope has commanded these
scholars is sometimes necessary to discounten
ance some professor used his liberty to bad advantage
for himself and the church, danger of such result i'll
isolated will persuade The Interior to consent to
weigh heoogans with papc ball and chain before turning
them loose to seek the truth"
The Springfield Republican says
at commonplace that the Reformation substituted an in
fab book for nfabe church. But the ancient church has
ALWAYS held that an nabe book only be interpreted by
infallbe church. And nothing could be reasonable II
God given absolutely perfect revelation He must have
provided absolutely perfect interpreter This He has done IN
the church. with dvney ordained vceregent OF God in the
seat of ST. head Between this and the untrammeed
freedom of the scholars and the thinkers and every man and
woman, there is place for pause
The results the Popes special commission which to
DIV scholarship they dare and all the dog
mas and proof unnured will not be awaited with great
anxiety tho curiosity will attach to the findings 1t is