The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-22
CATHOLICS AND PHILOSOPHY.
A Plea for Liberty Of Thought by Q Catholic
Scholar.

A Plea for Liberty Of Thought by Catholic
Scholar.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE suN-Sir: Doubt.
less all the readers Of TEE SUM- being Of the
most intelligent OF American citizens, sym.
pathized heartily with the eulogiums re.
Gently passed upon the departed Pontin.
Leo XIII. Undoubtedly he was a great
man, who will forever lend touch OF dignity
and tenderness to the historians picture OF
the nineteenth century Give him all Just
praise. even express II in the most ferveut
style. and no man OF good will. certainly no
American, will demonstrate. But there 10
limit to laudation. There is an extent Of
extravagant expression which not only tres
passes upon truth. but also makes the per.
sonage 1t intends TO exalt utterly and ridicu.
lously grotesQue.
II strikes me that this extravaganza ha,
been carried quite to its remotest boundary
by recent writer on Leo XIII. Father
Wynne. s. j.. one of the distinguished mem
bers OF society which formerly possessed
a great deal of distinction. says in his preface
to compilation OF the late Pope's Encycli-
calls: If to-day a Brunetiere without fear
OF contradiction can proclaim science bank
rnpt. 1T Is in great measure because LEO
KILLS Encyclical on the study OF st Thomas
and scholastic philosophy inspired Catholic
scientists. and. through their influence non
Catholic scientists as well. TO study both
theology and science more ardently, sys-
tematcally and conservativey."
This prodigious assertion contains these
three propositions: First. the Pope's letter
on scholasticism has induced Catholic scien-
lists to, study theology Second these
Catholic scientists have induced non Catholic
scientists to study theology Third, through
ho hnr, atic al ht,t ha "
Patris." materialistic and agnostic science
has suffered much Of its present discontinue.
These declarations lead one to think that
Father Wynne Ia the very man to write
history OF modern philosophy I am sure
1t would be adopted as text book in every
Catholic college In America. But as to the
truth Of things. can 1t possibly be denied
that the influence on modern thought Of St
Thomas and OF Leo Kills Encyclioal is
hardly anything else than absolute zero'
For the most part, scholastic philosophy
and theology are locked up in barbaro,s
Latin. which perhaps not single living non
Catholic thinker has ever dreamt Of explor-
ing And II an intelligent scholar should
happen to devote himself to a man unl OF
philosophy. such, let us say. as is used to-
day in Jesuit colleges. would he be inspired
to study scholasticism more ardently,- by
the phenomena Of hypnotism are due to the
devil? Or by a perusal of Father Carnoldi.
8. j., who informs us that "the history OF
modern philosophy is nothing but the history
OF the mental alterations OF men aban-
doned to the caprces OF their pride?" Or by
being told by men who have never seen the
inside Of a scientists laboratory, that evo-
luton is absurd in philosophy and dangerous
to belief? In one word. Leonine Thomism
as put forward in authoritative Latin man
uals Is outside of and opposed to the whole
tendency and temper Of modern science:
and to say that 1t has decisvely influenced
modern science Is to exhibit astounding
suranoe. indeed. 1t might furnish an ex-
tremely interesting entertainment for Father
Wynne to draw up list OF the Thomistic
philosophers who have helped to make bank
rupt tho infldel science Of the last century.
Perhaps he can discover an Aristotelian DIR.
Martineau or a Peripatetio DR.. MoCosh, who
has been produced by the "Eterni PATHS"
and has welded mighty weapons against
Tyndall. Maudsley and Buchner. We wait
the name Of this child OF the Encyclical. and
beseech Father Wynne to withhold it not.
In point OF fact. the Encyclioal on St.
Thomas's philosophy has not only had not
the slightest effect on contemporary thought.
but 1t has even been an instrument OF deadly
injury to advanced Catholic scholarship In the
hands OF the bigoted partisans who always
feel themselves divinely inspired to assume
the ONCE Of Grand Inquisitor whenever
papal letter appears. On the publication OF
the Eterni Patris' in 1879, these men began
4 systematic persecution Of Catholic scholars
and professors who. In the free domain OF
philosophy, ventured to differ from 81.
Thomas. Palmieri and Caretti were driven
from, their Roman chairs, and succeeded by
Carnoldi. Lorenzelli, Zigliara and Satolli.
Seminaries everywhere were cleared Of anti
Thomists. Freedom Of philosophio thinking
was made impossible So recently as when
the Catholic University at Washington pro-
posed to found professorship OF empirical
Father Hughes, s. j., burst from
his study with vi gorous denunclaton OF ms
unThomistca ana s tGnse que SoE ali oSers OF
academic freedom to recall how the, scholar
appointed to that chair skewed the R"v
Hughes and toasted him with consummate
At this very hour there is in France band
of loyal Catholic scholars who, are endeavor-
ing to construct a philosophio APOLOGIZE
Of ID tRey a aa
istic. because they use not the phrasco!ogy
OF the Middle Ages. because they have studied
Kant, they, are furiously denouncea by th'
cyclcal. foremost among whom are ferr
Fontaine, s. j., and other gentlemen %!
Father Wynne 5 society. WV, ...
have been a great factor, in the defeat .,
philosophic unbelief. or when he is said .as
Be was said by one Of Father Wynne's orothi,
ers in the society, TO , nave amos mo bimss,t
is put in false and ridiculous posture, am
one further proof is given TIA, TIE reRHH hss
for scholarship possessed !, BY Father "yNn''
poSToS Oct. ID. ROBERT TORN,